Events

Parrtjima A Festival in Light 
Parrtjima is the only authentic Aborignal light festival of its kind. The annual festival takes over Alice Springs with ten night of light installations from a number of Aboriginal artists set against the majestic MacDonnell Ranges. It is truly spectacular.

Desert Song Festival

Over 10 days, singers, choirs, and audiences from Alice Springs and Central Australia, along with visitors to the region, come together to celebrate the voice and the song. Asante Sana and other Alice-based choirs, vocal ensembles, and performers from diverse sacred music traditions perform in a variety of events, including major and chamber concerts, workshops, and an open stage. The cultural smorgasbord of Central Australia features a range of music genres, from African freedom songs and Aboriginal traditional music to ballads, classical compositions, and Caribbean folk music.

Desert Mob

An unmissable opportunity to experience an event of national significance, the most comprehensive survey of contemporary Aboriginal art by artists from the wide reaching desert regions and communities. Held at Araluen Art Centre there is also a symposium and the much loved market place on the Saturday morning, Desert Mob is unlike anything else and is one of the most anticipated and important Aboriginal art and cultural events in the nation.

Market Day

Alice Springs offer the popular Alice Springs Todd Mall Markets (that usually operate every 2nd Sunday, with some variations - see their website or their Facebook page) and the smaller community Heavitree Markets (usually every other Sunday, with some variations) and the special Christmas period Night Markets (usually operated by the Alice Springs Town Council). Other popular markets include the Old Timers Fete (August).

Harts Range Races

Picnic Day weekend held in August. Set in the majestic East MacDonnell ranges area, is the ‘Harts Range Bush Sports Weekend’ aka ‘Harts Range Races’, 215 km on the Plenty Highway  east of Alice Springs. Over 2 days of family fun. Stock-horse races, rodeo, gymkhana, sports events including running races, novelty races for kids, Lizard Race, Ladies Cow Tail Toss, Tug of War and Jumping Castle for the little ones.

Old Timers Fete 

Held on Sat in early August.

A very popular fun-raising Alice Springs annual event that often sells out of things early.

Henley-on-Todd Regatta

Join in the fun at this boat race in the sands of the Todd River and Rotary fund raiser.

The Redback
An award-winning event, over four days and six stages of incredible mountain biking in Australia’s red centre. This MTB (mountain terrain bike) event is about racing your bike in a truly awesome location, where the tectonic lines of the MacDonnell Ranges disappear into a distant horizon, with big blue skies, rolling single track and within a majestic desert landscape. 

Alice Springs Beanie Festival
The longest continuously running iconic event in the NT.

Finke Desert Race

An off road, multi terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) community.

Alice Springs Show

One of the biggest social and agricultural highlights of the NT year.

Red Centre Bird Festival

Mid August/September.
For the bird lover, this annual event is usually a collaborative event held with the Alice Springs Desert Park.

National Transport Hall of Fame

Late August. The National Road Transport Hall of Fame, the Old Ghan Train Railway Museum and the magnificent Kenworth Dealer Truck Museum is the most comprehensive land transport museum in the southern hemisphere. Each year they have an annual event.

Red CentreNats

Motorsports in association with the SUMMERNATS. Entrants come from far and wide

Wearable Art Awards

A spectacle of awe inspiring creation of wearable form. Held as an annual event, the catwalk comes alive with magic wonder and beauty.

Alice Springs Masters Games

Every Masters Games, the Alice Springs community welcomes back old friends and greet new friends as competitors, volunteers, spectators and visitors to Central Australia for the Alice Springs Masters Games.