Published on Monday, 30 June 2025 at 3:55:47 PM
The Shire has welcomed more than 3500 people over the weekend to Jarrahdale Oval for its signature Muddy Buddies event, held in partnership with Nature Play WA.
This year marked the first time Muddy Buddies was held over two days which reflects its growing popularity. More than 90 per cent of tickets to the free event were snapped up in less than 48 hours and the event was fully booked out weeks before. Among the newly-added sessions was a low-sensory session which catered to anyone who may have sensory processing sensitivities or who simply prefer a quieter session with a smaller crowd.
Shire President Rob Coales said events like Muddy Buddies, held in perfect weather, showcased what Jarrahdale has to offer, especially for families who want to connect and spend time outdoors.
“It’s great to see how popular Muddy Buddies has become, and the Shire is incredibly proud to host an event that encourages children to play outside and simply enjoy being kids,” President Coales said.
“Our Shire has so much to offer locals and visitors, and we’re really excited to once again partner with Nature Play WA on this event.”
Now in its fourth year, Muddy Buddies embraces nature-based activities from mud pits and mud kitchens to nature crafts and water play.
Nature Play WA CEO Dr Kelsie Prabawa-Sear said mud play and being outdoors offers a variety of benefits for kids and families.
“The beauty of mud play is that there’s no wrong way to do it, whether a child is cautiously dipping one finger or diving in face-first, they’re all getting exactly what their developing brain needs” she said. “It’s inclusive play at its finest, plus it’s just good fun!”
Beyond getting muddy, there were plenty of things for attendees to enjoy such as live music, tasty food trucks (the artistic animal-shaped fairy floss proved very popular with the kids!), whimsical bush fairies, hands-on nature crafts, interactive games with Neighbourhood Watch, hose displays and fire truck tours with the Jarrahdale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, and engaging sustainability education. Shire staff were also on hand to discuss all things Jarrahdale Trails and Waste.
In a move towards sustainability efforts and ensuring no trace is left behind, the mud, soil and straw bales are carefully chosen to ensure they don’t negatively impact the environment and can be reused. Community members and local groups, such as local gardens and schools have been invited to pick up the straw bales and soil for mulch, fertilising, and other purposes.
Additionally, and for the first time, attendees were able to leave behind their muddy attire at the Shire’s Waste stall so our passionate Waste team could arrange for the old clothing to have a second life and be repurposed for bunting. Find out more about the SJ Bunting Library Project here:
If you missed out on a ticket for Muddy Buddies and want to connect with nature in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, feel free to:
To stay connected and informed about future events, subscribe to the SJ newsletter via www.sjshire.wa.gov.au/subscribe.
Muddy Buddies was proudly supported by Alcoa and Lotterywest.
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