Alice Springs Events Listings

Alice Desert Festival

The Alice Desert Festival is Central Australia’s premier arts and cultural festival, celebrating the desert and its peoples. The Alice Desert Festival shares the stories, songs and the unique lifestyle of Central Australia’s arid region. Featuring a vibrant program borne out of the desert landscape, they celebrate the dynamic exchange between cultures in the heart of Australia. Artists, dancers and musicians from some of the remotest communities in Central Australia perform beside a selection of Australia’s hottest acts. Indigenous musicians drive hundreds of red dusty kilometres to perform in the Bush Bands Bash. Wild bush foods are harvested and cooked into succulent dishes and choirs sing amidst ancient desert landscapes of gorges and gaps. The Alice Desert Festival attracts audiences of around 50,000 people from around Australia to over 50 events across its season. The festival presents an atmosphere not found anywhere else in Australia, where strong traditional cultures and a vibrant contemporary arts community, work together in presenting an amazing 10 days. Admission costs apply to some shows.

Alice Springs Classic

The Alice Springs junior Classic is the tournament of opportunity for juniors aged 7 to 18 of all levels. All players compete for great trophies and Australian National rankings points in a friendly environment where participation and loads of match play are the main focus. These events have been running for over 25 years and attract over 100 entries each year. Contact the organisers for more details.

Alice Springs Cup Carnival

Join the excitement at the heart of Central Australia to experience Outback Racing at its finest. XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup Carnival is a five-day race program, over four weeks of April/May culminating in the final weekend, hosting XXXX Gold Cup. 13th of April - Girl's Day - a retail fashion day to promote businesses that get ladies ready for the Carnival Glamour. 20th April - Family Day - the ASTC has been one of the first to purchase a Jumping Castle and play equipment. 27'th April - Ladies Day - where everyone can show off their finery while lunching in the marquee overlooking the MacDonnell Ranges and home straight. 3rd April - XXXX Gold luncheon, entertainment, food and beverage available plus some racing expert advise. 4th April - Young Guns Day - mingle in the party marquee with live DJ's, bands, Celebrity MCs and racing action including the Pioneer Sprint. 6th of April - XXXX Gold Cup Day - A day of fun, fashion and live racing action broadcasted internationally on SKY2.

Alice Springs Heritage Festival

Explore the heritage sites of Alice Springs. The Alice Springs Heritage Festival is a week-long celebration of local heritage. Jailhouse Folk is a night of Aussie music, come and enjoy a meal and show at the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame. The Heritage Bus Tour – join artist, blacksmith and engineer Dave Leonard on a stimulating educational and relaxing journey of heritage properties. Join the Mural Tour to the historic St Mary’s Chapel, where you’ll view the mural painted in 1956 by Hungarian artist, Robert Czako. The Stuart Town Gaol is holding an open day, and in the evening, historian Dick Kimber recounts the past with ‘The Law, the law makers, the building’. The Old Hartley Street School Open Day - come in and experience the schoolroom of a past era. Heritage Night at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station – experience the atmosphere of yesteryear with activities and displays, or try your hand ad sending a Morse code telegram. Please note - there are some free activities / programs.

Alice Springs Masters Games

Known as the Friendly Games, the Alice Springs Masters Games is the longest running Masters Games event in Australia. The Games in 1986 was the first in Australia and has continued biannually for 30 years as it heads to its 15th running in 2014. Alice Springs brings to the Games the unique opportunity to participate in one of the world's most remote areas. The community boasts some excellent sporting facilities which have played host to many local, interstate and on occasion national sporting events. Come join us for a great week of fun, activities, entertainment and of course sport for the 2014 Alice Springs Masters Games.

Alice Springs Night Markets

The Alice Springs Night Markets are held monthly from August to November on a Thursday evening from 5pm to 9pm. The markets have many assorted stalls that can be explored, giving visitors that enjoyable outback experience. You can shop for authentic Indigenous art and craftworks, recycled treasures, books, photos, handmade clothing and jewellery. You'll be surprised at what you may find. Tantalise your taste buds with a tasty treat from one of the enticing multi-cultural food vendors or sit back and relax on the lawns with a local roasted coffee, a freshly made donut, or try a refreshing fruit sorbet, or a delectable cupcake. With plenty of entertainment for the whole family, wander on down and enjoy an evening at the markets. Dates for 2013 are 22 August, 12 September, 17 October and 14 November.

Alice Springs Open

Your chance to watch a tennis champion in the making. The Alice Springs Open is part of the AMT (Australian Money Tournaments) and is held in township of Alice Springs. This tennis tournament, attracts players from all over Australia with many of the players competing all around the world during the year. A pre-determined number of the highest ranked players will be placed directly into the main draw, with all other entrants playing off against each other in qualifying matches to then earn the right to move into the main draw and playoff for the title. Matches will consist of AMT Men’s and Women’s Singles, AMT Men’s and Women’s Doubles, Boy’s and Girl’s Singles and Doubles in age brackets 12 and Under, 14 and Under and 16 and Under. Entry is free for spectators.

Alice Springs Town Council Christmas Carnival

The Alice Springs Council Christmas Carnival is jammed packed with activities and live entertainment for people of all ages. This family friendly community event will have a mix of magicians, circus performers, buskers and balloon twisters roving the mall. A special treat for the children is the Secret Solar Garden, with activities to keep them entertained for hours. Whilst you shop amongst the numerous market stalls, listen to the sounds of Alice’s local musicians. The stalls offer a variety of arts and crafts, fresh produce, plants, clothes, books, jewellery and global foods that will give that enhanced shopping experience for the last minute Christmas shopper. Come and take part in celebrating the festive season in the colourful carnival atmosphere of the Todd Mall. The carnival starts at 5pm, finishing at 9pm.

Australian Outback Marathon

Don't just run a race, experience a truly unique Australian running event - The Australian Outback Marathon! Feel the kilometres slip by as you take in the awe-inspiring sight of Uluru..." (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). This inspiring backdrop will encourage both professional marathoners and amateur runners to work through 'the burn' and break personal records. The Australian Outback Marathon consists of events for every running ability including the full marathon, half marathon, 11km and 6km. Perfect for all who love running and adventure, most of the course is on unsealed roads complete with Australia's famed 'red earth' underfoot. With a variety of itineraries available, their marathon packages suit all budgets. From 5 night stays to 2 night packages, the choice is yours! There are plenty of local entries so don't miss out.! Participants please contact event coordinators for more information. Spectators are free to watch. .

Henley-On-Todd Regatta

A boat race with a unique difference - on the dry sands of the Todd River. The Henley-On-Todd Regatta is a day of fun where teams and individuals race 'boats', in the dry bed of the Todd River in outback Alice Springs. Have fun and enjoy the hilarity as you watch seemingly sane people race in bottomless 'eights', 'Oxford tubs', 'bath tubs' and 'yachts' through the deep coarse sand. The event has its origins when Reg Smith, an Alice Springs local, and his work colleagues proposed holding a regatta based on the famous Henley-on-Thames. The idea was taken up by the Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs and the fact that the town was 1,500 kilometres from the nearest large body of water was never seen as a problem. So the Henley-On-Todd was born. All proceeds going to the three local Rotary clubs in Alice Springs,

Ingkerreke Commerical MTB Enduro - Red Centre

Get off the main routes and roads and experience Central Australia on two wheels. The Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro is five days of awesome mountain bike racing along the single track and dusty trails of the Red Centre. The race takes you through the majestic MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs. Competitors will experience the mighty MacDonnell Ranges and the outback in and around Alice Springs as part of this unique event. Seven stages are run over five days culminating in a sprint up Anzac Hill in the centre of town. And each day after the race competitors can be found exchanging notes and relaxing around the pool. Family and supporters can join the fun as spectators, and are invited to bring a bike and join the action enjoy and the associated festival of mountain biking. There is no entry cost for spectators.

Lasseters Camel Cup

The quirky, annual Lasseters Camel Cup attracts visitors to Alice Springs from all over the world. While camels may have a reputation as dedicated 'ships of the desert', these magnificent beasts are certainly not short on personality. Racing them can prove a nightmare for riders and handlers but fantastic viewing for spectators. Entertainment is assured, with nine unique races scheduled around the dusty outback track throughout the day. There will be lots of action between races, too. Belly dancers, rickshaw races, 'Kids Kamel Kapers' hobby camel races, rides, Mr and Miss Camel Cup challenges, food stalls and bars will add to the carnival atmosphere. The cup is held in its own arena at Blatherskite Park, a section of the Central Australian Show Society grounds. Gates open at 10.30am, with the grand parade starting at 11.30am. The first race is at 12noon and the last race is at 4pm.

National Road Transport Hall of Fame Reunion

Remember the great trucks, buses and vehicles of the past, and the men and women who drove them at the annual National Road Transport Hall of Fame Reunion. If you love trucks this is your opportunity to meet and mix with Australia's transport legends. Join transport industry magnates and truckies from around the country to honour the nation's rich transport heritage. The reunion is a celebration of road transport in Australia and the program includes the prestigious Shell Rimula Wall of Fame induction ceremony, a twilight race meeting at the local racetrack, a gala dinner and concert at the Hall of Fame. Held in Alice Springs at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, there will be a public open day in the museum to view the heritage collection and a dinner on the famous Old Ghan Train. This is a popular event and bookings are essential.

Old Timers Fete

Rummage through bric-a-brac at Alice Springs’ largest fete. The largest annual fete in Alice Springs, the Old Timers Fete, is a fun filled day with 'on tap' entertainment, second hand book stall, craft stalls loaded with traditional 'fete' treasures, preserves and cakes (as only a mum can make them), food stalls, and oodles of bric-a-brac. There's the old favourite 'Chocolate Wheel' with generous prizes to be won, Devonshire Teas to be shared with friends and generally a good time to be had by all. The Old Timers Fete is the major fund-raising event of the year for the Old Timers Village.

Red Centre Bird Festival

The Red Centre Bird Festival is your chance to get to know the Northern Territory's plumed inhabitants better. Filled with diverse habitats, the Red Centre is a haven for birds. They hide in spinifex, dance around waterholes and soar over rocky ranges. Red Centre Bird Festival is your chance to get to know the Territory's feathered inhabitants better. There's plenty to chirp about with bird walkabouts, waterhole watch, scatter feed, survival in the desert, bird film and much more. For the children there is a 'make a bird' activity held each day. All events that state 'Desert Park Program' are free once you have entered the Desert Park. You can download a program from the Alice Springs Desert Park website.

Rotary Club of Alice Springs Bangtail Muster

Join in the madcap fun of one of Alice Springs' major street parades. The Bangtail Muster is the annual fundraiser for the Alice Springs Youth Centre and one of the Centre's major events. The centrepiece of the event is a parade of floats down Todd Mall, which starts at late morning adjacent to the Memorial Club and finishes at Anzac Oval. The story behind the Muster goes back to the old days when cattle were the main industry of the Centre and Stockmen would cut of the ends of the tails to record the number of cattle mustered. The theme for this year will be 'Our Community'.

Tatts Finke Desert Race

Come and experience a truly unique outback event. The Tatts Finke Desert Race is Australia's premier off-road racing event that attracts bike, car and buggy entries from around Australia and overseas. It is a multi-terrain, two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) Community and is reputed to be one of the most difficult off-road races in one of the most remote places in the world. The Finke, as the event is commonly known, is run along sections of the Old Ghan Railway service track, adjacent to the railway line, along a winding corrugated track, which snakes through typical outback terrain of red dirt, sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oaks. The Finke enables people from all walks of life to become involved. For 3 days, it is estimated that 500 bikes and 90 buggies compete annually at this one of a kind race.

The Alice Springs Beanie Festival

There are hats and hats - these beanies stretch the definitions like never before. The Alice Springs Beanie Festival is a unique event that celebrates this great Australian icon. It's the place people can come to find the perfect beanie from among more than 4,000 beanies displayed at the Araluen Cultural Precinct in Alice Springs. A full weekend with music, the famous tea shop, the Beanie Olympics, and a fantastic program of textile workshops and crafts for kids. Indigenous artists from local communities demonstrate their ancient spinning techniques and basket making. There are textiles on display and for sale for any budget. Opening Night party is not to be missed - come and enjoy the entertainment and see the prize winning beanies paraded under the stars. The competition exhibition remains on display for several weeks after the festival. Come and have some wild and woolly fun, in June. Entry is via a gold coin donation, and there is a visitor's entry fee into the Araluen Galleries.

Todd Mall Markets

Alice Springs' Todd Mall comes alive with Sunday Market Days. Listen for the town crier declaring the market open and listing the wide range of stalls selling souvenirs, art, craft, and local produce. Also Todd Mall now has FREE Wifi. Choose from and craft including handcrafted jewellery, stock up the pantry with local produce, find a table to eat alfresco and watch the colourful entertainers. Enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning brunch and stroll down the pedestrian mall, explore the arcades, plazas and shops. Dates for 2012 are 25 November and 9 December. Market hours are 9am to 1pm from October to April and 9am to 2pm from May to September.