Near-record crowds celebrate at Parrtjima in Alice Springs

Parrtjima – A Festival in Light has wrapped up for 2024 after delivering an unforgettable experience and extraordinary crowds, with the second biggest-ever opening weekend.

Over the first weekend, 8,000 attendances were recorded, with visitors connecting to Country and culture; being dazzled and delighted by incredible, immersive light installations; and enjoying music and stories under the starry night sky.

There were 21,363 attendances recorded over the annual 10-night event which is set against the ancient MacDonnell Ranges at Alice Springs Desert Park.

More than 80 First Nations artists contributed to Parrtjima this year, including DJs, performers, speakers, and workshop facilitators. Additionally, 20 businesses participated in market stalls organised by Desart and Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network’s Buy Blak Market.

Furthermore, the festival marked a significant milestone in community collaboration as the local indigenous workforce partnered with Stride, a local supported employment business, to focus on upskilling indigenous men in land management and event skills.

“The festival shone a spectacular light on the Arrernte community and their culture, bringing a wonderful celebration of community spirit and warmth to the Alice.

“Visitors told us they felt incredibly inspired and welcomed, and we’re thrilled that the festival brought so many people together from not only the Territory, but Australia and the world,” said NTMEC CEO Suzana Bishop.

This year’s festival included a number of firsts, including the unforgettable theatrical experience of Arelhe Urrperle, a six-metre tall, 600kg, illuminated puppet representing the matriarchs and knowledge holders in Aboriginal cultures. Created by visual theatre wizards Erth Visual and Physical Inc., the expert puppeteers trained local Indigenous performers on how to operate her.

Another debut was the three-night Desart and Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network (NTIBN) Buy Blak Market that offered art, bush foods, jewellery and beauty products from local Aboriginal businesses and art centres.

The festival also included a talks program, fantastic music performances from award-winning artists including Shellie Morris and Miiesha.

New light installations included The Arrernte, a series of illuminated cars which celebrate a collage of work across Eastern, Western and Central language groups, Honouring, an immersive passageway which will pay homage to the great Arrernte leader, the late Dr MK Turner OAM, and Tjoritja Cockatoos, where the evocative artwork of Artist and Director Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre Vanessa Inkamala.

Crowd favourites Grounded and the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show, which sees almost two kilometres of the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges come to life, also made welcome returns to the festival.

Parrtjima is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) in partnership with Creative Directors Grumpy Sailor and events destination company We Are Gather.

Grumpy Sailor CEO James Boyce said: We at Grumpy Sailor are proud to have helped deliver Parrtjima 2024, as Creative Directors, at a pivotal juncture in the national discourse. As Mparntwe (Alice Springs) was cast in the nation’s spotlight, we were honoured to play a role in amplifying narratives of hope, positivity, and the Dreamtime. We are not the artists, but by echoing learned processes of deep listening, we believe we were able to respectfully help celebrate Indigenous artworks, artists and stories On Country. This collaboration resulted in a truly unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to further refine and evolve this unique festival next year.”

We Are Gather Co-Founder Naomi Wilson said: “We were honoured to be trusted with the production and event management of Parrtjima 2024. This event is special in so many ways, we learnt through the process of storytelling and working on country. and we’re proud to have employed more first nations suppliers than ever before. We can’t wait to start again for next year and telling more Arrernte stories through light.”