The fourth year of the filthiest and muddiest annual Jarrahdale event was held over the weekend, with many leaving their dirty clothes behind to keep the car clean.
Held at the same time as International Mud Day on June 29, the weekend in Jarrahdale was all about getting loose, getting muddy, and allowing kids to express their childhood through sensory play.
For the first time, Muddy Buddies was held over two days which reflected the growing audience the family-friendly event received.
Hosted by the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale in partnership with Nature Play WA, Muddy Buddies was a free event to encourage locals to get outside and get dirty.
Shire president Rob Coales said the sunny weekend weather was a perfect opportunity for families to spend their time outdoors.
“It’s great to see how popular Muddy Buddies has become, and the Shire is incredibly proud to host an event that encourages children to play outside and simply enjoy being kids,” he said.
“Our Shire has so much to offer locals and visitors, and we’re really excited to once again partner with Nature Play WA on this event.”
In addition to getting grubby, event attendees were also treated to food trucks, live music, children’s entertainment, nature crafts, and fire truck tours with the Jarrahdale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade under the winter sun.
Nature Play WA chief executive officer Kelsie Prabawa-Sear said outdoor and mud play was beneficial to children and their families.
“The beauty of mud play is that there’s no wrong way to do it, whether a child is cautiously dipping one finger or diving in face-first, they’re all getting exactly what their developing brain needs” she said.
“It’s inclusive play at its finest, plus it’s just good fun.”
Muddy Buddies has increased in popularity since the event first started, with more than 90 per cent of tickets to the event taken within the first 48 hours.
All tickets to the event were snapped up weeks before the end of June.
Muddy Buddies has also been an environmentally friendly and nature appreciation event with the shire’s commitment to increase sustainability.
This year, mud buds could leave their muddied clothes at the waste stall, where old clothing was taken by shire workers and given a second life as repurposed materials for crafts in the SJ Bunting Library Project.
Additionally, community members, gardeners and schools were invited to take home the straw bales and soil for mulch, fertiliser and farming purposes, ensuring no resources were wasted.
The mud mountain was a huge success for the second consecutive year, with more mud and more mess expected next year.
