Featuring a vibrant masala or 'mix' of cultural influences, the program includes global music stars, kathak dance, American tap, contemporary music improvisors, DJs, traditional Rajasthani folk arts and a bustling street marketplace. Parramasala is a festival for all ages and interests.

Festival highlights at Riverside Theatres include:

-Tap Kathak: an explosive dance spectacle with one of India's foremost Kathak masters, Pandit Chitresh Das, and one of the world's greatest tap dancers from the USA, Jason Samuels Smith.

-Desert Wedding: three groups of traditional Rajasthani folk artists including musicians and dancers entertaining audiences with the songs and rituals of a desert wedding.

-The Guru of Chai: a new comic play by one of Australasia's most successful theatre companies, Auckland's Indian Ink Theatre Company;

-Anandavalli, Australia's renowned Bharata Natyam dance artist collaborates with South Indian contemporary music artists Anil Srinivasan and Sikkil Gurucharan to create the world premiere of A Million Eyes;

-Australia's leading music improvisors, the Australian Art Orchestra, perform one concert of The Chennai Tapes featuring long-term artistic collaborator Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani and members of the Sruthi Laya Ensemble.