From local events to world-class festivals, Central Australia has it all. These Alice Springs events highlight the history, the culture, the arts, the wildlife of the region and instill a sense of adventure in you.
FabAlice is a drag and cabaret festival that is meant to celebrate the region's diversity. It usually happens in March after the Mardi Gras and has many free and ticketed events for everyone.
Parrtjima is a 10-day festival, that takes place in Alice Springs, and is free! It is also known as the Festival Of Light to the locals. Beautiful installations of light, interactive workshops, talks on music and movies, artwork, performances, and much more are some of the festival's highlights. It attracts tourists from all over Australia and beyond and usually takes place in April every year.
A truly unique event, the Dark Skies Festival (DSF) is conducted in some of the darkest areas of the world and offers a sky gazing experience like no other. There are exciting presentations on the sun, moon, Orion, Southern Cross, etc.
This year (2022) the event includes photography workshops, a full-fledged dining experience, canapes, and overnight adventures. Ticket prices start at $25.
Another unique event, the Finke Desert Race, is for cars, bikes, and buggies and is a two-day, off-road race. It includes multiple terrains from Alice Springs through to Aputula (Finke) community.
The Beanie Festival is organised to sell beanies made by Aboriginal women. You can participate as a volunteer, visitor, or beanie maker and send your beanies over.
Henley on Todd Regatta is a fun-filled dry boat race that takes place on the bed of the Todd River in Alice Springs. It is the only dry boating regatta in the whole world. Besides the race, there are several activities for everyone, including children.
Red CentreNATS is an automotive festival that is three days long. It includes drag races, burnouts, street cruising, and much more. The event takes place in September, and tickets start at $35.
In September, the Desert Song Festival brings together artists from the region and outside local art and music. It also has a digital version meant for those who can’t make it in person. Spread over 10 days, this Alice Springs festival celebrates the multicultural community set against the backdrop of Central Australia.
The Desert Mob is an art festival that showcases the works of the desert communities in Central, Western and South Australia. It also includes a conference and a marketplace.
The Desert Festival, a famous Northern Territory event, is organised by Red Hot Arts Central Australia, a not-for-profit that supports local artists.
Several mountain biking events take place in Central Australia, such as the Great Outback Escape, Easter in the Alice and the Redback MTB Race.
The Larapinta Trail is a popular hiking destination for many, but did you know there are also running events along the Larapinta Trail too? Several runs take place in this region, such as Run Larapinta, the West Macs Monster, and the Outback Marathon.
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