Alice Springs Events and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Alice Springs, Northern Territory - NT, Australia)

The Northern Territory sees a number of fun festivals and well-supported events, with Alice Springs being called home by some of the most significant. Many of the principal things to do tend to be based around the Todd Mall, where community celebrations and exhibitions of large art works are amongst the principal draws.

Numerous events staged in Alice Springs reflect the arid nature of this part of Australia. The annual Alice Desert Festival incorporates the famous Lions Camel Cup, where camel races take place at Blatherskite Park, being organised by the Lions Club and first staged in 1970.

Those arriving around springtime (September in Australia) will be able to join the crowds gathered on the banks of the dry Todd River, where the Henley-on-Todd Regatta takes place. However, with a lack of water, this is a sailing regatta with a difference, as the crews simply race along the dry river bed with their bottomless boats, a number of which are armed with flour bombs and fun water-based weaponry.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• 26th January - Australia Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday March / April - Easter
• 25th April - Anzac Day
• 1st Monday in May - Labour Day (NT)
• 2nd Monday in June - Queen's birthday
• 1st Monday in August - Bank Holiday
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

Alice Springs Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Australia Day - late January, local celebrations around the Telegraph Station, including a flag raising ceremony

February

• Get Physical Triathlon - early February, a 100 m swim, 5K bike and 1K run

April

• Alice Springs Cup Carnival - mid-April, a major horse racing event at the Pioneer Park Racecourse
• Heritage Festival - mid-April, celebrating the rich European heritage of the area, including guided tours of historic buildings

May

• Wide Open Space - first weekend in May, outdoor three days of art, desert culture and music
• Bangtail Muster - first Monday in May, with a parade of carnival floats heading down the Todd Mall in central Alice Springs
• Molly's Bash - second Saturday of the month, popular fundraiser event for the Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame

June

• Refugee Week - mid-June, celebration of the importance of refugees in the community, including film screenings and live music event
• Tatts Finke Desert Race - Queen's birthday weekend, a 240 km / 150 mile two day race around Finke with more than 400 motorcyclists, dirt bikes and buggies
• Alice Springs Beanie Festival - four day event in mid-June, held at Witchetty's at Araluen, with displays, workshops and awards related to woollen beanie hats

July

• Alice Springs Show - early July, annual agricultural show, with many side stalls and attractions
• NAIDOC Week - mid-July, a festival about the indigenous culture around the Northern Territory (National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee)
• Camel Cup - second Saturday of the month, camel racing held at Blatherskite Park, attracting large crowds
• Mick's Memorial Ride - first held in 2014 this is a motorcycle and car ride in tribute a rider who was unfortunately killed supported by the Rider Awareness NT

August

• Frontier Services Old Timers Fete - second Saturday of the month, Alice Springs' largest annual fete with craft stalls, cakes and entertainment
• Harts Range Amateur Race Club Bush Sports - early August, with a variety of horse racing events held at the Harts Range
• Alice Springs Running Festival - third Sunday of the month, including a fun run, 10km run, half marathon run and walk, and the marathon
• Henley-on-Todd Regatta - mid-August, a bizarre bottomless boat race along the dry Todd River
• Desert Harmony Festival - mid to late August held in Tennant Creek, NT. A ten day festival of art in various forms including film,dance and music
• Still Got Talent - late August, first held in 2013 this event show cases talent from the over 50 years old
• Council Night Market - held at the Todd Mall one Thursday in the month

September

• Desert Song Festival - first held in 2013, this is a ten day event held at various locations throughout Central Australia and Alice Springs
• Alice Desert Festival - a five day event held in early September, with general festivities and entertainment
• King of the Mountain - fun run or walk on the second Sunday of the month
• Council Night Market - held at the Todd Mall one Thursday in the month

October

• Masters Games - seven days of popular sporting events at various venues in the town
• Council Night Market - held at the Todd Mall one Thursday in the month
• The Central 10 Wearable Art Awards - held at the Araluen Theatre

November

• Council Night Market - held at the Todd Mall one Thursday in the month
• Wrapt in Christmas - late November, a festive craft market held to promote local crafters and designers

December

• Christmas Shopping Market - early December, Yuletide market stalls based around the centrally located Todd Mall
• Carols by Candlelight - early December, family event that includes a fireworks display
• Christmas Carnival - first week in December, markets, performance and activities for children around the Todd Mall