Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is set to bring a welcome glow to the Red Centre tomorrow, with Opening Night promising an abundance of Aboriginal art, culture and entertainment.

Alice Springs Desert Park and Todd Mall will burst into life with large-scale light installations enticing visitors from across Australia to find out more about this free, 10-night celebration.

The installations form the heart of the festival, alongside the incredible lighting of two kilometres of the ancient MacDonnell Ranges.

Opening Night features an impressive line-up of events, including award-winning musical duo Electric Fields, who will perform their Parrtjima track on stage in front of the Ranges.

Other highlights are a fabric and textiles workshop with National Indigenous Fashion Awards Director Nina Fitzgerald, talks with artists Jungala Kriss and Raymond Walters Japanangka, and the screening of classic movie Jedda.

Highlights for the rest of opening weekend include Casey Donovan performing on Saturday, 10 April, and author Bruce Pascoe chatting to Parrtjima Curator Rhoda Roberts on the same evening.

NRL legend Josh Addo-Carr will discuss his life and career with Rhoda on Sunday, 11 April.

Workshops include wooden carving with Maruku Arts, and bushfoods with celebrity chef Mark Olive and local expert Rayleen Brown.

Parrtjima runs from 9-18 April and the theme this year is Future Kultcha, with a focus on intergenerational wisdom. 

To view the full program and register for free to attend Parrtjima, visit www.parrtjima.com.au

Quotes from Minister for Major Events Natasha Fyles:

“Parrtjima shines a light on Alice Springs and draws thousands of visitors from around Australia to the Red Centre, to attend the festival and discover everything the region has to offer.

“We have already seen impressive booking figures with 12,000 visitors registered and 80 per cent of them from interstate.

“Operators have seen incredible demand for hotel rooms, tourism experiences and car hire during the Parrtjima dates, which is great news for local businesses and the Alice Springs community.”