DUNNVILLE—The storied Dunnville Mudcat Festival, now in its 47th year, returns from June 8-11, 2023, bringing with it all the traditions known and embraced by the community for generations, with one or two new tricks up its sleeve as well.
This year, Ward 6 Councillor Patrick O’Neill is serving as the Festival Coordinator. The Press spoke with O’Neill for a preview of this year’s event, which he said is all about building on last year’s successful post-pandemic return.
He said that a big change, the decision to eliminate a paid coordinator position and make the festival entirely volunteer run, helped contribute to a $30,000 profit from last year’s festival.
“That’s what we’re doing going forward,” said O’Neill. “We’re definitely riding a little high over that… I think last year going completely volunteer and making a profit that goes back into the community, back into local businesses through the Chamber of Commerce, I think that creates more positive energy taking us into this year.”
As festival coordinator, O’Neill is working with a team of dedicated volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly, “It’s a pretty logistics-heavy kind of role… I make sure everything is rolling along and we’re checking all of the boxes.”
On Thursday, the festival kicks off and leads to an action-packed Friday evening which includes a family movie night, the popular Dunnville Legion Fish Fry, youth dance, and street dance.
“Saturday starts with the parade, which rolls into a couple events simultaneously, one being the family entertainment zone at Central Park. We’ll have some blow-ups, a water feature, some face painting, and some entertainment in the bandshell with some characters who are popular with kids these days,” said O’Neill.
The Car Show also starts after the parade, which O’Neill said will expand on last year’s, with many planned events, a DJ, competitions, and raffle prizes. The show will be followed by the Mudcat Games, featuring the ultra-popular bed races.
O’Neill spoke about the hugely successful return of the bed race event last year, which returned to the festival for the first time in 20 years and drew up to 1,200 spectators, “It was way more than we ever expected. That’s what got me involved in the festival… I was the one who brought the bed races back and it transformed into this role.”
Following the games, the Bavarian tent will be open and feature three different live bands in addition to frosty beverages.
O’Neill said one big change this year is the addition of a teen-focused event. Skate company CJ’s Skate Parks will be setting up shop at the Dunnville Skate Park for the afternoon, where they will put on demos, host a best trick competition, with local kids free to enter if they choose, and free skating lessons as well.
Fireworks will follow, bringing Saturday evening to a close with a bang.
Sunday brings the kids 15 and under fishing derby at Wingfield Park. O’Neill credited Dunnville Chamber of Commerce President Marianne Kidd for bringing back the derby last year.
Cornhole fans best head over to the Legion, which will be hosting a tournament Sunday, with live music and food available as well.
For amusement ride fans, the midway will be open from Thursday to Sunday, offering thrill seekers plenty of opportunities to cash in those tickets.
“It’s just tradition, it’s what we’re used to and what we want to keep going,” said O’Neill of this year’s festival. “It’s always fun to bring in new stuff, but at the same time you don’t want to reinvent the wheel,”
With O’Neill at the wheel, it’s clear the festival is in good hands this year, “I’ve been to every Mudcat Festival for the last 25 years at least, if not more,” he concluded. “It’s one of those things you grow up with, understand, and come to expect. A big thing also is coming home… A lot of people who grew up here tend to come home that weekend and end up reconnecting with the people they haven’t seen maybe since the last Mudcat… The community, nostalgia, and tradition all mixed together seems to work and keep this thing running.”
The festival is looking for volunteers. O’Neill invited anyone interested to visit dunnvillemudcatfestival.com to learn more.
