- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
MULLETFEST 2023: The Party in the Back is Back in Kurri this Weekend
Mulletfest is back where it all began this weekend with entrants going head-to-head to find the best Mullet on Saturday February 25 at The Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri.
After a nationwide search for the best Mullet of them all, Shaun Webb was Crowned the winner for 2022. Shaun is a regular at Mulletfest, having taken out the extreme category twice before winning the ultimate bragging rights to the top prize. Judges award points not only for the cut but for the condition and stage presence. With Shaun's shinny, long black locks and Croc Hunter costume, complete with inflatable croc with its own mullet. What began as a kooky idea has become an annual pilgrimage for those who consider it a lifestyle rather than a hairstyle. The festival's creator, Laura Johnson has become the go expert on all things Mullet-related with calls coming in year-round from media worldwide. The spark that kicked off Mulletfest in its inaugural year, happened over a beer at the Chelmsford Hotel at Kurri Kurri. Looking for a way to create some clean family fun and a tourism injection to a town that was struggling after losing a large generational employer.
The event was planned as some fun for the locals and hoping to attract some people from surrounding areas turned into an international sensation. Attracting entrants from all over the country and stories running in media as far afield as Russia, The UK, North America, and Ireland. The event continued to grow and the 2020 event had 247 entrants from all over Australia and 7 guys from the international category arrive in-person to compete from Canada, the US, and Norway.
2023 began with Mulletfest taking the stage at Summernats in Canberra and at Motorvation in Perth and this weekend it's time to come back to where it all began in Kurri Kurri event at the Chelmsford Hotel. We will once again be donating to The Mark Hughes Foundation as part of the event to help them continue their amazing work in brain cancer research, treatment & care. The event will include the Matt Forster Memorial Rookie Award, dedicated to our dear friend Matt who sadly passed away in 2019. Leaving behind his beautiful young family. His strong and resilient wife Carly has remained involved in the event. It was the association with brain cancer research that put us in contact with gregarious MC Prousty (Dave Proust). He always took to the stage with gusto, along with his gorgeous wife, Therese, who helped judge our 2021 and 2022 event. Dave lost his brave battle with brain cancer in late 2021. The hope is that the work of the foundation could make another families journey slightly more bearable and find light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
Categories
Juniors
0-3 years
4-7 years
8-13 years
14-18 years
Adults
Ranga (redheads)
Vintage (over 50’s)
Rookie (growing for two years or less) Grubby
Extreme
Everyday
International
Your chance to show off your luscious locks is waiting for you this weekend at The Chelmsford Hotel and entries for all venues are open now online at Mulletfest.com.au.
