Come on out to the tiny Queensland town, affectionately known by locals as ‘The Creek’, for one of Australia’s toughest & muddiest adventure runs, horse races, rodeos and the iconic Australia’s Best Butt Competition.
Tickets to the popular Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival are released at 9am Friday and we’re inviting friends, family, runners, rodeo riders, jockeys and visitors to come on out for a dirty weekend of Outback Queensland fun!
“This is the largest event we hold each year, when we warmly welcome more than 2,000 visitors to join our small town of 400 residents,”
said Festival President and proud Julia Creek local, Sheree Pratt.
“We may be a small community, but what we lack in size, we make up for in spirit – delivering a huge event and it’s kicking off on Thursday, 20th until Sunday, 21st April,” she said.
The guaranteed fun-filled long weekend begins with local trade stalls showcasing local producers and artisans, before the Dirt N Dust Central gates officially open in the afternoon on Friday, 19 April for the adrenaline pumping action of the Dirt N Dust Rodeo, where our youngest competitors from just 7 years of age, start the competition showing off their bravery, riding calves before bronc riders display their skills – captivating audiences in an arena in non-stop live action.
On Saturday, 20 April, take part in the South 32 DnD Outback Adventure Run – the wildest, dirtiest outback course you’ll ever run and have you laughing to the finish line while wiping mud off your face. After washing the mud off, don your best finery, for a day at the racetrack for the Multicom Resources’s Artesian Express Outback Horse Races. By nightfall, it’s back to the rodeo colosseum where bull riders vie for the buckle and huge cash prizes in the Multicom Bronc Ride.
“One of the biggest drawcards of the festival would have to be Australia’s Best Butt competition,” said Sheree. “Literally anyone can compete, and we have heats on the Friday night with the crowning of Australia’s Best male and female Butt on the Saturday night!“It’s good old fashioned, clean fun – with your clothes on!” laughs Sheree. Cap off each evening by dancing the night away under the stars to live outdoor concerts held by popular and emerging Queensland musicians.
A well-deserved recovery breakfast will be held on Sunday, 21 April before the event officially closes at 11am.
“There’s no 5-star accommodation on offer,” said Sheree.“We’ve got even better – offering billions of stars that come out in full force at night at our camping site! Sleep under The Milky Way and gaze into Queensland’s incredible outback skies above Julia Creek.”“So, book your single day or weekend entry tickets now, as well as Race Day, Adventure Run and camping passes to spend an unforgettable weekend in Julia Creek,” Sheree said. “What are you waiting for?.”
SOME FUN FACTS
750+ burgers, 5,000+ beers are expected to be sold, 60 rodeo cowboys, 60+ runners, with a bonus 98 flies and 100g of mud per visitor!
DID YOU KNOW?
Australia’s Best Butt Origins –
It all started when a power outage happened during a live Mental As Anything set at the Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival. Instead of panic, someone had the bright idea of grabbing a torch and starting a dance competition… and so began one of the toughest events over the DirtnDust weekend – Australia’s Best Butt!
Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival origin dates back twenty-eight years ago to 1994 and began, like all good outback tales, at the bar in the Julia Creek Town and Country Club. A conversation was held between locals as to how they could get Julia Creek on the map and bring the community together. The group decided on an event that would incorporate the harsh outback surroundings, during a time that visitors didn’t traditionally visit Outback Queensland. A triathlon would be staged over a weekend featuring a bull ride and live music. Today the program includes a rodeo, adventure run, horse racing, live concerts under the stars, and an ever-expanding camp ground.
2024 JULIA CREEK DIRT N DUST FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Get the full lowdown www.dirtndust.comThe Dirt N Dust Festival is staged in the rural town of Julia Creek, 646 kilometres west of Townsville along the Overlanders Way, and an adventurous seventeen and a half hour road trip (1,628km) north west of Brisbane.
The Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
Interviews + Media Support
Interviews are available with organisers, performers, and local characters.
Please contact:
Danyelle Britz – Founder, Bloom PR
E: danyelle@bloompr.com.au M: 0408 410 930
Sheree Pratt – President, Julia Creek DirtnDust Festival
E: president@dirtndust.com M: 0427 421 959
HIGH-RES IMAGES
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9kepsbr4lpflkiw/AADpmcbnnsAhY8EoS1Yz_OE9a?dl=0
PTC’s + AUDIO GRABS FROM FESTIVAL PRESIDENT
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/j1ijole7u1jygzg4owhj6/h?rlkey=rtb67f0zia3juuizl92vaic5q&dl=0
Raw footage available on request