Mud World festival at Samford cancelled because of drought

A planned two-day mud festival west of Brisbane has been cancelled, with organisers saying they “cannot morally go ahead” with the event because of the severe drought hitting Queensland towns.

A two-day mud festival planned for next weekend has been cancelled because of the drought.

In a notice to ticketholders on its website, organisers, Nature Play, said due to the severity of the drought conditions in Queensland it had decided, “with heavy hearts” to cancel this year’s Mud World planed for next weekend in Samford.

“The Nature Play QLD team feel that we cannot morally go ahead with an event that uses so much water while some regional Queensland towns are facing the very real prospect of running out of this precious resource,” the statement said.

CANCELLED: Next weekend’s Mud World Festival has been cancelled due to the drought. Picture: Annette Dew

“This was not a decision we have taken lightly as Mud World is an event much loved by local children, but we are a statewide organisation focused on helping all Queensland children find ways to participate in healthy outdoor play.”

The first Mud World Festival was held in Ipswich last year.

It is designed for kids aged up to 14 years to get dirty with mud slides, muddy games of tug-o-war, and mud mountain climbing.

Families who have already bought tickets will get a refund.