Music, art and more at the 2022 Desert Festival

Central Australia is the place to be for lovers of the arts and culture, with the popular Desert Festival returning to Alice Springs from Thursday, 22 September to Sunday, 2 October.

This year’s festival is not to be missed, with a packed program featuring more than 40 events ranging from live music, dance, theatre and circus, to interactive workshops, demonstrations and more.

NT Major Events Company CEO Tim Watsford said it was wonderful to see Desert Festival return to Alice Springs.

“The heart of Australia is renowned for its rich culture, vibrant arts and music scene, and community spirit, all of which are celebrated in this iconic event,” he said.

The 2022 theme is ‘Bloom’, and the program highlights the region’s flourishing desert wildflowers and diverse desert talents.

Red Hot Arts Central Australia Inc Chair Penelope McDonald said there is something for everyone to enjoy and celebrate as the spring desert blooms.

“Look out for the 11 new works developed by local artists with the support of project seed. Grab your tickets and we will see you at the festival,” she said.

Desert Festival is a staple on the Red Centre’s events calendar, and has been showcasing arts, culture and Central Australia’s vibrant community since 2001. It is delivered by not-for-profit association Red Hot Arts Central Australia, which is passionate about offering a diverse and inclusive program. This year they launched ‘Project Seed’, a program dedicated to local artists that offered them mentoring and support to develop and produce 11 shows for the festival.

The 2022 event will feature a broad mix of local and visiting artists who’ll perform across numerous venues in Alice Springs, with the majority of events to take place at the Desert Festival Hub at Gap View Hotel. The festival hub will feature a bespoke container bar, community courtyard, and numerous food and drink options.

Program highlights include mesmerising musical performances by Tibetan-Australian artist Tenzin Choegyal, well-known Indigenous songwriter Frank Yamma and ARIA award winner and songbird Kavisha Mazzella, who sings in English and Italian. Other must-sees include exciting aerial performances by Dusty Feet Dance Collective and Strings Attached, and circus collective Circus Dust.

Families will be well looked after, with crafty theatre performances by Kardboard Kingdom, and fun interactive workshops with ‘Fix It’ the clown.

Desert Festival is supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company.

To see the full program or to buy tickets, visit www.desfest.com/.