Alice Springs’ annual light festival Parrtjima attracts more than 20,000 to Desert Park

Calls for Parrtjima Festival to be extended have been knocked back despite the organisers recording more than 20,000 attendees and the Major Events Minister calling it a ‘major success’.

Alice Springs Parrtjima Festival of Lights has drawn to a close for 2024 with an NT Major Events Company spokesperson saying there are no plans to extend the event.

The annual event drew a total of 21,363 attendees to Alice Springs Desert Park for the event according to figures from NT Major Events Company, which this year had the second highest opening crowds in the festival’s history.

In a statement NT Major Events said that more 80 First Nations artists – such as DJs, workshop facilitators, speakers, and performers – all contributed to the festival this year, with 20 businesses also involved and running the market stalls.

The market stalls were organised by Desart and the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network Buy Blak Market.

Major Events Minister Brent Potter said the festival was one of a kind, bringing together natural historic features, the world oldest cultures, and cutting edge technology.

“I am not surprised Parrtjima 2024 was a major success, with new draw cards building on the already full festival line up, like art installation The Arrernte, it would have been hard to stay away,” he said.

“Aside from the immersive installations, Parrtjima is a festival which makes meaningful and positive impacts on Central Australian Communities, and the economy.”

Crowds at Parrtjima 2024. Picture: Supplied

This year’s festival had a 6m tall and 600kg illuminated puppet called Arelhe Urrperle, which represented the matriarchs and knowledge holders in Aboriginal Cultures.

Other highlights included the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show, a 2km long light and sound show which went across the ranges, and The Arrente, a display featuring illuminated cars.

NTMEC chief executive Suzana Bishop said Parrtjima showed how similar festivals can have positive impacts on communities.

“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,” she said.

The festival’s success has led to calls to for an extension from an Alice Springs tourism operator, who said that operators in town have had a hard year after $2.2 million in bookings were cancelled.

But an NTMEC spokesperson said: “there are no plans to extend beyond the duration of the event at this stage.”

“We look forward to welcoming people to Parrtjima in 2025,” they said.