Just like the dragonflies herald the arrival of the Dry season here in the Top End, when the bamboo starts appearing in Civic Park here in the Darwin City, it’s a sign that the Darwin Festival season has arrived!

At a time when the arts and entertainment sector has been hit so hard by coronavirus cancellations, it’s such a treat to welcome another Darwin Festival, delivered right on our doorstep. It makes me so proud and excited to be a part of this amazing, creative community which pulls through in face of adversities.

I look forward to seeing you there, at the ABC Darwin Happy Hour broadcast returning to the Bamboo Bandstand on August 12, from 4pm. Don't forget to register, there are a few tickets remaining, but getting booked out fast!

And if you're still after tickets to the shows, we have a special treat in store for you! Check out our ticket competition and join ABC Radio Darwin Breakfast's Jo Laverty to win one of the double passes to the Festival!

If you can't make it in person, tune in on the day via 105.7 FM, via the Listen App or at abc.net.au/darwin. 

Hope to see you there!

Liz Trevaskis, Drive presenter, ABC Radio Darwin

People in the Top End are being warned to brace for an early return to sweatbox conditions, with predictions an early onset of the wet season will bring the cooler dry season temperatures to a premature end.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) modelling shows rain and high humidity levels are expected to envelop some parts of Northern Australia earlier than usual.

The Northern Territory government has reached a $35 million settlement with young people who claimed to have been mistreated while in youth detention in the NT.
Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said she believed this was the largest ever class action settlement the NT government had faced.

The Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) has called for more candidates for the upcoming election on August 28, with nominations to close at noon on August 5.

In the last election, an average of just two people were nominated per council position. Despite voting being compulsory, the voting turnout rate was only 57 per cent at the NT's last local government elections.

The full bench of the NT Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether Constable Zachary Rolfe can argue in his upcoming murder trial that he was not criminally liable for Kumanjayi Walker's death because he was acting in "good faith" as a police officer during the incident.

Constable Rolfe has previously indicated to the court he intends to plead not guilty to murder.

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) was set to go ahead in Darwin on August 7 — with a massive line-up of First Nations artists – for the first time since the pandemic began.

But with the NT border closing to travellers from NSW as the southern state battles to contain an outbreak of the Delta strain of the virus, organisers said "it was the best choice for all" to reschedule the event.

Cracker night on Territory Day is usually held on July 1st each year, but this year was postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The new date has been set for August 29, but the bushfire experts and rural residents are fearful that allowing people light fireworks might end in disaster.

Listen to ABC Radio Darwin's Jo Laverty talk to Pauline Cass is from Gamba Grass Roots about the potential repercussions to allowing the cracker night to go ahead.

One of Australia's best-known pearling luggers is a vessel called Anniki. It was built in 1958. But after a lifetime of pearling, crayfishing, tourism and movie-stardom, this wooden lugger has fallen on hard times. It's spent the last five years parked up in a yard in Darwin after it was rescued from the bottom of the Duckpond.

Read more about Anniki in a special feature report and listen to the audio story by clicking on the link below.

Plans to potentially develop an abandoned pine forest have angered recreational users and those who say the woodlands are highly valuable.

The 300-hectare Howard Springs pine forest was planted in the 1960s as part of the visionary Northern Territory Forestry Program across the Top End.

Crunchy edges, gooey cheesy top and a saucy interior - can anyone resist a yummy Italian pasta bake? 

Add a generous amount of cheese, drizzle with a little virgin olive oil and bake until the top is golden and crunchy... Bellissimo! A dinner favourite for the whole family!