MATT WILLIAMS: Get your party shoes on and get pumped because the carnival’s about to begin!

TERRITORIANS, it’s time to get excited.

For those in the Top End, the official start of the dry season is only a week away and this means only one thing — get ready to party.

We all remember how crap last year’s Dry was. I can’t remember if it lasted two weeks or three weeks but it was an absolute shocker.

Following what will be one of our wettest-ever wet seasons, surely the odds are in our favour for a cracking Dry.

Right across the Territory, the events calendar is jampacked with great events and entertainment for all of us to enjoy in the coming months.

Marking the unofficial start of the Dry, the iconic Mindil markets kick off Thursday night where thousands are ex- pected to turn out for the opening fireworks spectacular.

Mindil starts an extravaganza of events — many of which are attended by tourists from around the world who appreciate what a great place the Territory is. So, strap yourselves in. Here are some of the premier festivals and events coming up over the next five months right across the NT. •Uluru Camel Cup. •Melbourne Demons vs Gold Coast Suns in Alice Springs.

•XXXX Gold NT Barramundi Classic.

•Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival.

• BASSINTHEGRASS Music Festival. •Tatts Finke Desert Race. •Barunga Festival. •Borroloola Show. •Adelaide River races. •V8 Supercars at Hidden Valley.

•Parramatta Eels vs North QLD Cowboys at TIO Stadium.

•Greek Glenti festival.

•Territory Day fireworks and celebrations. •Apex Camel Cup. •Alice Springs Show. •Tennant Creek Show. •Katherine Show. •Royal Darwin Show. •Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons at TIO Stadium.

•Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta. •Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Carnival kicks off.

•Darwin Cup and Qantas Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball.

•Rotary Henley on Todd Regatta. •Desert Harmony Festival. •Katherine Festival. •Garma Festival. •Darwin Festival. •Darwin Aboriginal Fair. Art •Desert Mob. •Alice Desert Festival. •Red CentreNATS. •Jabiru Mahbili Festival. •Red Centre Bird Festival. •Parrtjima Festival. If you’re not excited by that list of huge festivals and events, you’re living in the wrong place. It’s great to be a Territorian but the next few months make us realise even more what a top-notch place we live in. Don’t forget, though, with all these worldclass events comes a lot of dedication from thousands of hardworking people who make it possible for Territorians to enjoy.

We should all recognise the countless hours of effort that go into organising these events and we thank you all in anticipation for what will be a memorable time. To anyone who thinks there’s nothing to do in the Territory, print out this list and put it on your fridge. You’ve got no excuse to stay home and sit on the couch!

Matt Williams is the editor of the