2020 Mighty Mud Mania canceled but hopes are high for a successful return next year

With that kind of multi-generational tradition, if you will, for Mighty Mud Mania, I think [there will] even be a bigger desire to hold the event and for people to participate in the event next year and in subsequent years as well.”

Joan Fudala, Scottsdale historian

The 45th annual Mighty Mud Mania, a beloved Scottsdale tradition, was canceled earlier this year in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Scottsdale decided to cancel the event where families gather to enjoy some time in the sun while letting loose in mud-based obstacles and activities this year in order to follow guidelines set in place for the COVID-19 health emergency. All city spring and summer events were canceled according to Daniel Miller, the assistant coordinator for the event.

While the events were canceled, there are currently no plans in place to reschedule any for the remainder of the year as well as any plans for Mighty Mud Mania to happen again next year.

“At this point in time you know our hope is to be able to look at putting it on again in the future but of course, [it] depends on what the guidelines would be at that point in time,” Mr. Miller said.

Mighty Mud Mania, which is typically held at Chaparral Park, will likely not happen again until next year and along with event cancellations like this, public parks only recently began re-opening as of May 18.

“Over the next several weeks, they are going to start reopening particular park amenities,” Mr. Miller said. “And again the big thing really I think you’re kind of seeing everywhere right now is making sure that we’re creating a safe environment.”

Part of the event that helps to give back to the community is their partnership with the Vista del Camino Food Bank. Each year Mighty Mud Mania attendees bring in canned goods to donate to the food bank. At last year’s event over 500 pounds of food donations were made.

Luckily, this year’s cancellation will not drastically impact the food bank’s donation supply nor anyone involved with the planning of this event.

“They have, as of recently really kind of ramped up the donations that they’re receiving and things along those lines and Mighty Mud Mania has always kind of been just an extra thing that they can do, you know, when the event started way back when,” Mr. Miller said.

The event was founded in 1976 as a part of a promotional event called Shout It Out for a detergent brand. The attendees would come and get themselves muddy in order to prove that the product was a successful stain remover.

Long-time Scottsdale resident and former special event team member, Terry Erickson, says Mighty Mud Mania has continued on as a result of people’s love for the event.

“First they said ‘yeah we’re not going to do it anymore’ and we said, ‘well, we really like it so we’re going to keep it,’” Ms. Erickson said.

The event has grown significantly and was rebranded as Mighty Mud Mania after the inaugural event and has attracted visitors from different cities and even countries, according to Ms. Erickson.

Each year new obstacle courses and activities are added on. Things like a mud river and an Extreme Course can be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. Ms. Erickson, who was a part on the event for many years before her retirement, worked passionately on this project and holds it dear to her heart.

“It kind of brought us back to that, you know, little town, ‘we’re all Scottsdale’ kind of thing and everybody working on an event together that’s free for the community,” Ms. Erickson said. “And it’s obviously not just for people in Scottsdale but just for anyone to have fun and enjoy and that’s what I like best about it.”

The original event only allowed 7 to 13 year-olds participate in the festivities but as it has grown more activities have been added to accommodate all age groups.

“When, you know, you see mom get muddy and dad get muddy and the kids are all muddy and it’s just a big muddy family,” Ms. Erickson said. “I don’t know, it just gives me that kind of fun family, kind of feeling.”

This free-spirited event has been attracting visitors from across the Valley to come and let go at this messy yet exciting event for almost 50 years.

“Obviously we’re a wonderful resort and tourism community but we’re also a great place to live and a great place for families,” Joan Fudala, the city’s historian, said.

Families have made it a tradition of sorts by coming to this event and taking their children to participate as they had before.

“With that kind of multi-generational tradition, if you will, for Mighty Mud Mania, I think [there will] even be a bigger desire to hold the event and for people to participate in the event next year and in subsequent years as well,” Ms. Fudala said. 

With this year’s cancellations, some families may be disappointed in not getting to share the love they have for the event with their young children. Ms. Erickson also expressed that Mighty Mud Mania is something meaningful that older generations get to share with those who are younger.

“It’s unfortunate that it can’t be held this year but based on past participation, it sure sounds like, there’ll be a lot of demand for it to come back next year,” Ms. Fudala said.

Editor’s note: Ms. Yu is a student-journalist at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism serving in a paid internship role at Independent Newsmedia.