Dirt n Dust Festival

The Dirt n Dust Festival is an annual sporting and music festival held in the rural town of Julia Creek, 646 kilometres (401.4 mi) west of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was one of the biggest annual events of its type in Queensland.

Dirt n Dust Festival
StatusActive
GenreFestival
BeginsApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
EndsApril 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Julia Creek, Queensland
CountryAustralia
Years active29
Inaugurated1994 (1994)
Participants1,000
Attendance3,500
Capacity5,000
Websitedirtndust.com

The festival takes place over a three-day weekend in April each year.

In previous years it has featured triathlon, horse races, bull rides, bog snorkelling, Australia's Best Butt Competition and live country music artists. The triathlon was renowned for being one of the toughest triathlons in Australia, particularly because of its extreme, tough conditions. About 3,500 patrons attended annually over the weekend for a full, authentic festival experience.[1]

The triathlon was the festival's main event. It featured an 800-metre creek swim, a 25-kilometre bike ride on the Flinders Highway and a five-kilometre run around the town.[2] The triathlon was won five times by Brisbane triathlete Sam Betten.[3] World-renowned triathletes like Brad Bevan, Courtney Atkinson, Loretta Harrop and Emma Jackson have also competed in the event.

The event previously received funding under Tourism and Events Queensland's Regional Development Program.[4] The non-for-profit organisation spent a considerable amount of time lobbying for sponsorship and funding through various sources each year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 festivals were cancelled.[5][6]

In July 2021, it was announced that due to a lack of volunteers and there being no committee to run the event, the Dirt N Dust Festival would be permanently discontinued and there would be no more festivals held.[7][8] This decision was reversed two months later with the announcement of a new volunteer committee taking over the organisation of the festival for its return in 2022.[9]

In line with the community vision, the revived 2022 festival, with changes to the event line-up seeing the Triathlon replaced with an Adventure Run and the Bull Ride extended to the Dirt n Dust Rodeo.[9][10]

The dates for the coming event are 21 - 23 April, 2023 in Julia Creek, Outback Queensland. Accommodation is limited, so book ahead, with camping onsite. Tickets released in the lead up to the event.

See also

References
  1. "Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival 2014". Katter's Australian Party. 13 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. Kate Stephens (20 April 2015). "Dirt n Dust Festival: Winner makes it five in a row in tough outback Queensland triathlon". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. "Betten wins Dirt n Dust Triathlon". Townsville Bulletin. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. "$1.5 million funding boon for regional Queensland events". The Morning Bulletin. Capricornia Newspapers. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. Campbell, Samantha (16 March 2020). "Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 fears". The North West Star. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. Campbell, Samanatha (20 January 2021). "Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival cancelled for 2021". The North West Star. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  7. Brown, Trudy (2 July 2021). "DONE N DUSTED: Lack of committee ends popular festival". Townsville Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  8. Barry, Derek (2 July 2021). "Julia Creek Dirt N Dust Festival has had to close down". The North West Star. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  9. Gall, Sally (16 August 2021). "Dirt n Dust Festival saved". North Queensland Register. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  10. Barry, Derek (2 December 2021). "Planning full steam ahead for 2022 Dirt N Dust Festival". The North West Star. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
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