April to October is the main season — warm, dry days with clear skies, cool nights (cold in winter, with temperatures dropping near freezing in June and July). This is when the parks and gorges are at their best and the Uluru area is most accessible. Summer (November to March) is harsh: temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and isolated thunderstorms can close tracks and make some areas inaccessible. The shoulder months of April and September offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures and relatively fewer tourists.
The Alice Springs Rodeo in August, held at Blatherskite Park, is one of the largest rodeos in Australia — a week of events including the main competition, street activities in Todd Mall, and associated parties. The Camel Cup in July is a camel racing event that draws crowds from across the country. The Henley-on-Todd Regatta — a "boat race" on the dry Todd River bed with bottomless boats carried by their crews — is one of Australia's more eccentric events, held in October each year.