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No excuses! Get muddy this weekend in Scottsdale

Posted at 2:49 PM, Jun 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-09 17:49:42-04

Barring major germaphobes, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone not willing to jump into large mud pits to cool off from the Arizona heat.

On Saturday, the City of Scottsdale's annual Mighty Mud Mania event is going on at Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road.

The free family event has five courses designed for those as young as one to those wise enough and physically able to complete the obstacles.

Courtesy of City of Scottsdale

While the event is free, organizers are asking that you bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Vista del Camino Food Bank.

Dan Miler, assistant coordinator for Scottsdale, said the event began 41 years ago after a large company wanted to host a promotional event to let families test out its detergent. Back then, the event had one course, a bunch of muddy kids, and free detergent samples for moms and dads.

To say the least, it was a success and even after the company decided to take its marketing in a different direction, the city revamped the event and it has grown ever since, said Miller.

Last year, nearly 8,000 people made their way through the pits. Organizers expect between 8,000 and 10,000 people on Saturday.

NullCourtesy: City of Scottsdale

COURSES:

  • Original Mud Obstacle Course: This course starts off with a swinging rope that drops you into a 5-foot mud pit. Other obstacles include a car wash, hills, and tunneled slides.
  • Extreme Obstacle Course: This course is for those 18+ and does cost $10. It's like the original course, but has more challenging obstacles.
  • Mini Mud Course: This course is for children between four and six years old and has smaller obstacles. Parents are able to go through this course with the kids.
  • Mud Nursery: This is a walk-through mud pit for the littlest of kids, ages one to three. This is a new course.
  • Mudville: Also for the little ones, toddlers can walk around this mud-filled town.

Besides the mud runs, there will also be an inflatable water slide and other activities for the kids. If you're hungry or thirsty, vendors will be out there selling food and water.

The Scottsdale Fire Department will also be out with a tanker to help clean the mud off you.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. You will be allowed onto the courses from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

New this year, fast passes are available to purchase. Each pass is $10 and only 500 will be sold.

Organizers said this week that passes were still available and will be sold online and at the event. If you purchase a pass at the event, it will be $10 cash-only.

TIPS:

  • Fill your safety waiver out ahead of time. Everyone has to sign a waiver. Visit Scottsdale.gov to print off the waiver and fill it out. It will make registering at the event go smoother.
  • Bring non-perishable food donation to benefit Vista del Camino Food Bank.
  • Wear clothes that will get dirty.
  • You must have closed-toed shoes.
  • Bring a change of clothes, towels and garbage bags to store dirty clothes, protect car seats.
  • Be patient. During peak hours, lines for the obstacles can reach up to an hour wait time.

IF YOU GO:
Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale AZ 85250
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Admission: Free ($10 for those 18+, Extreme Course)
www.scottsdaleaz.gov/mighty-mud-mania