THE first FABalice Festival from March 8-10 kicks off this year’s rich program of events and festivals in the Northern Territory.
The three-day event in Alice Springs is inspired by cult movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
The FABAlice Festival will showcase the Alice layered with comedy, cabaret and social activities paying homage to the film and later stage musical.
To be held annually on the weekend after Mardi Gras in Sydney, FABalice extends the rainbow celebrations across the country to the red centre of Australia.
Next on the NT calendar is the Tiwi Islands Grand Final and Art Sale on Bathurst Island on March 17, combining the region’s love of AFL and traditional Tiwi art.
You will have the chance to view and buy Tiwi artwork directly from the artist, and then kick back later in the day to watch the footy grand final.
Then it’s back to Alice Springs for the annual Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. It will return to Alice Springs Desert Park, this year from April 5-14.
Hailed as the first authentic Aboriginal light festival of its kind, Parrtjima is a 10-day event that uses the latest technology to showcase the oldest continuous living culture on Earth on a 300-million-year-old natural canvas – the MacDonnell Ranges.
Also in April is the Aileron Bush Weekend, a wacky weekend in the bush 130km north of Alice Springs (April 20-21) where women toss their boots and the locals race donkeys over Easter.