Alice Springs Desert Festival

The 2005 Alice Desert Festival gets under way today with a street parade starting at 6.30 in Todd Mall. The parade will make its way to the newly created HUB space on the banks of the Todd River near Anzac Oval.

Organisers expect the parade to be bigger and better than previous years. It will feature salsa, african and belly dancing, and is aiming for a real carnival atmosphere.

On arrival at the HUB space, local Arrernte will perform a welcome dance which has only been performed on one other occasion in the previous 60 years.

The HUB space is the new centre of the Alice Desert Festival, and will be a hotspot of live entertainment, traditional dance, mega light shows, circus performances and local and interstate acts.

This year the Alice Desert Festival runs from September 2 to September 11. Over the weekend, events that will occur at the HUB space during the day include Tjanpi Aboriginal basket weaving, Circus Us performances, African drumming and dance and Hip Hop dance.

On Saturday evening, the HUB will swing from dusk to around 1 AM with the sounds of Alice Springs locals Leon Spurling, Tashka Urban, Kylie Wilson and Nokturnal, followed by Adelaide funk DJ Sam E B. Entry is $20 for adults and no alcohol allowed.

2005-08-02