Miss Mudcat competition making grand return for festival’s 50th anniversary

DUNNVILLE—Get ready to party Dunnville! This summer is the 50th anniversary of the Mudcat Festival, and some classic events are shaping up to return and help drive home this year’s ‘Back to the 70s’ theme.

At the top of the list is the return of the Miss Mudcat competition, but with a modern twist. Instead of competing in swimsuit competitions, contestants will be vying for the role of town ambassador.

“We’ve been really trying to take a trip down memory lane,” said one of the event’s organizers, Marianne Kidd. “We have so many different photo albums and people in the community have come forward with a lot of nostalgic memorabilia from past Mudcats.”

Through that process, the Miss Mudcat competition has come up repeatedly.

“Back in the day in Dunnville, they not only had Miss Mudcat, but a Miss Grand River as well,” said Kidd. “Even our firehalls traditionally had a pageant as well for a Miss Firehall. I think some of these events are nostalgic. For the 50th anniversary, we’re trying to bring some of that back.”

On the modern approach, Kidd acknowledged that traditionally the competition was more of a beauty pageant.

“We want to position it more as an ambassador for Dunnville,” said Kidd. “This person would represent our community and could get involved throughout the year with helping to promote different events within the community.”

The competition is open to women aged 18-plus. Contestants from across Haldimand are welcome to sign up, but competitors will be asked to explain why Dunnville is important to them, why they would like to help promote the community, and to answer some Dunnville-specific trivia questions. The Miss Mudcat pageant will take place on May 2, 2026 at a venue to be determined.

In keeping with the 70s theme, contestants will take part in a decade-appropriate photo shoot ahead of the event, with those photos then reviewed in a photo-judging competition. All contestants will get to keep their photos as a souvenir of the experience.

There will be more traditional events as well, such as an evening gown competition and a talent show.

“It helps us to see that the person can carry themselves well and that they have confidence and poise when they’re out representing the community,” said Kidd of the various competitions. “At that event we’re hoping to showcase a lot of old photos.”

She said she has already heard from previous Miss Mudcat and Miss Firehall contestants who are interested in taking another run at it. 

“We want to make it fun,” Kidd said, calling the whole process of organizing this year’s festival really positive. “We’ve got a great volunteer group already together. People are excited.”

There’s always room for new faces on that volunteer team as well. The Mudcat Committee is hosting their next meeting on March 30 at Grandview Lodge at 7 p.m. Kidd welcomed anyone interested in helping with the festival.

The Miss Mudcat pageant isn’t the only vintage event from Mudcat’s past that is making a return this year.

“We’re bringing back an arm-wrestling competition – taking place at the car show area in Lion’s Park this year,” said Kidd. “We’re also looking to bring back the grease pole competition as part of the Mudcat Games. That’s one that people keep asking about. We’re doing our best to bring that one  back for this year.”

Beyond that, the 2026 Music on the Grand concert series is kicking off with local, 70s-themed band Public House, who will be performing all those solid gold hits from the era where disco and hard rock butted heads on the nation’s radio dial.

For more information, including how to register to compete, visit dunnvillemudcatfestival.com.