Tickets for the only dry-river boating regatta in the world, the Rotary Henley-on-Todd, are available after COVID-19 forced the event’s cancellation for the last two years.

Spokesperson Dominic Mille said it will be the event’s 60th anniversary, and aside from the focus being on the bring-your-own-boat race, other events included people paddling canoes and surf skis with sand shovels, a nippers foot race with kids wearing floaties “for safety”, and the famous battle of the gun boats finale, with ‘pirates’ brandishing water pistols and launching flour bombs.

The event features teams in bottomless boats and bathtubs, racing across the red sand of the dry Todd River around a buoy and back to the finish line.

Mr Mille said the Todd family will be at this year’s event in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the overland telegraph line.

“People from all over Australia and overseas come to enjoy this eclectic event. It’s an example of the Territory spirit, where we laugh at adversity and have lots of fun while doing it,” Mr MIlle said.

“The Rotary Henley-on-Todd Regatta is one of those very Territory events, where you need to see it to believe it. Since 1962 the regatta has only missed three years – it was cancelled in 1993 due to unusually wet weather filling up the river, and in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic,” Major Events Minister Paul Kirby said.

The event will be held on August 20, beginning with a parade down Todd Mall at 10.30am, with boat racing at Snow Kenna Park and Todd River from 11.30am.

For tickets, and to register your boats, visit the Henley on Todd website.