Get your beer can boats ready, the iconic Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta is going ahead this year, but at a different location – the Darwin Waterfront.

Organisers are pushing ahead with the event now COVID-19 restrictions have eased in the Northern Territory, but will be shifting it from Mindil Beach and scaling it down to a smaller size.

The famous beer can regatta race will go ahead in the Waterfront’s outer lagoon on August 2, with the entire event taking place on reduced hours between 10am and 2pm.

Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta chairperson Connell Brannelly said excitement was already building around the event.

“We’ve had people that have already started building their boats,” he told the NT Independent.

“Being in lockdown has given them plenty of spare time to work on their beer can vessels.”

Boats that feature in the regatta will be smaller than previous years, with a maximum size of around 2.5 metres.

A kids event to preview the regatta will take place in Smith Street Mall between July 13 and 17, giving youngsters the opportunity to build their own miniature boats using cartons of Pauls Iced Coffee and other milk drinks.

The boats will be displayed in shop front windows at the mall once completed and a judging competition will take place on August 2 to decide the best designs.