What’s on: Kate Dinning shares long weekend activity plans

The dry season has officially started, and there’s certainly no easing into the madness for us Territorians, writes Kate Dinning. Plan your long weekend.

Welcome to the long weekend my friends – you’re going to be busy!

The dry season has officially started, and there’s certainly no easing into the madness for us Territorians.

For those who haven’t ventured to the Daly Waters rodeo, the Lake Arglye swim or even down to Wide Open Space in Alice Springs: Today alone, you can take your pick from clothing sales, celebrations, DJ bike rides – and Welcome to the Dry parties.

Thrift pre-loved clothing at the beautiful Rays Cafe courtyard in the CBD this Saturday from 2pm.

This isn’t an ordinary thrift shop event – the markets will be stocked with brands like Zulu and Zephyr, Silk Laundry, ROLLAS, SIR, and Gorman.

Or grab your mates and head down to the sunset session favourite, the Darwin Ski Club, to help them celebrate 60 years of events, sunset sessions, photos of their palm trees in front of the sunset … Oh and water skiing.

The kitchen will be open all day, and there will be drink specials and live entertainment starting from 4pm.

Darwin Ski Club Palms

For the DNB fans or just the fans of a bit of an ‘only in Darwin’ event, there’s the DJ on a Bike ride through the CBD starting at 4pm – or if fitness isn’t on the agenda – you can just join in at the end to hear from local DJs at the Precinct Lawns down at the Waterfront from 5pm.

Given that it’s May the 4th, I would love to see someone out there in a Star Wars costume … that is my challenge for you.

For more live DJs – you can see five of them across the night at the Trader Bar’s Welcome to the Dry Party.

The party kicks off at 6pm and includes canapes and drink specials – but this event is ticketed so get on it quickly.

And on Sunday? There will be a Mother’s Day Makers Market by Tactile Arts, with over 90 stalls on the lawns of the Darwin Waterfront.

In Litchfield, you can swim the top of Greenant/Tjaetaba.

Don’t worry – Mother’s Day isn’t until next Sunday, but you can take the stress out of it by shopping this weekend for a local for a gift for your mum, your friend who is a mum - or any special woman in your life.

And in the words of Lainey Wilson, it seems like country is cool again – so if you understood that reference, you should head to the Landmark on Sunday afternoon for the Red North Country Music event - soulful tunes of Darwin’s ‘The Captain’ who will be belting out some of the favourites by the likes of Luke Combs and Tim McGraw.

For the chilled-out sunset vibe that we all need on a long weekend Sunday, check out the Surf Life Saving Club (De La Plage) for sunset – Soul Dogs Dreaming will give you sounds inspired by soul, reggae, RnB, jazz, dance and hip hop all in one – or head over to Wagait Beach for a Sunday afternoon of live music under their Banyan tree.

If you just want to dust off the pool noodles, grab your hat and get out the picnic rugs, the following areas are open for swimming:

In LITCHFIELD, you can swim at Florence, Buley, Upper Cascades, and the top of Greenant/ Tjaetaba.

If you’re keen to venture to KATHERINE, The Edith upper pools are open, as are Southern Rockhole and the Lily Pond Waterfall - which you access via the ferry from the Nitmiluk visitor centre.

In KAKADU: Motorcar Falls and Boulder Creek are still open, as is Moline/Igoymarrwa but you’ll need a 4wd for that one – and Ubirr has reopened for sunset views too.

Enjoy your weekend! This column will only get fuller from here on out it seems … Bring it on. As always, let me know of any hot tips at [e-mail]