Get down and dirty this Saturday, June 10 in Scottsdale at the free Mighty Mud Mania event at Chaparral Park.

Though this event has been around for more than 40 years, it’s still relatively unique in terms of who can participate.

“This is the only ‘mud event’ where it doesn’t matter what your fitness level is,” Dan Miller, Scottsdale assistant recreation coordinator, says. “It’s all about family interaction. People who did it when they were kids are now out there with their kids.”

The city brings in 100 tons of mud for this event. And this year promises to be the muddiest of all because of what is being trucked in. Instead of topsoil, the mud will be clay and sand from a gold mine in Wickenburg.

Miller says the mud this year will “cling” better, getting participants very muddy. The mud will be “similar to that at high-end spas,” he says.

Mighty Mud Mania includes an original course, which is a footrace for 7- to 12-year-olds with obstacles, mud pits as deep as 5 feet, ropes to swing into the mud on, slides into mud and a tube dive.

The extreme course will have similar obstacles but is for ages 13 and up. Those 18 and over who wish to do the extreme course will have to pay $10 each.

There is also a mini course for ages 4 to 6 and an area for toddlers 1 to 3 years old.

Those who don’t want to get muddy can stick to the inflatables or the inflatable waterslide.

Open-play mud pits, food vendors and wash stations will also be on-site.

Andrew Dorame, Scottsdale maintenance technician, has been working on creating structures for the mud courses for 17 years.

The idea is to make course structures that challenge the participants while keeping safety in mind.

Asked if he participates in the mud fun, Dorame says, “Yes, quite a bit, to make sure everything is safe and working properly.”

You’ve heard of the fast pass at Disneyland? For the first time, Mud Mania has them too for the original and extreme courses. The fast passes are for sale online and each pass can only be used once. There will only be a total of 500 passes available.

Also for the first time ever, there will be pre-registration for child participants. Parents can sign up their kids and sign waivers online and then pick up the packet with the wrist-band at any time (must have receipt) at three locations (McDowell Mountain Ranch Park, Chaparral Park or Eldorado Park).

Mighty Mud Mania

When: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 10.

Where: Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale.

Admission: Free, ages 0-17; $10, 18 and up (extreme course).

Details: scottsdaleaz.gov/mighty-mud-mania.
 

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