Fact: The Mudcat Festival is organized and run by volunteers through the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce, supported by a small number of professional services where needed (such as installations, marketing, and advertising).

Hundreds of volunteer hours go into planning, organizing, and executing the festival each year. Like most large-scale community events, certain areas—such as marketing, safety, and logistics—may involve paid professional support to ensure the festival is delivered safely and effectively.

In many cases, these partnerships extend beyond contracted work, with businesses and individuals contributing additional volunteer time and expertise back into the festival and the community.

There are no “insiders”—just a combination of dedicated volunteers, community organizations, and local partners working together to create something for Dunnville.

Fact: The Mudcat Festival is not fully funded by the County.

We are able to apply for a County grant each year, which can provide up to 10% of the previous year’s expenses, to a maximum of $10,000. In reality, this funding represents only a small portion of the total festival costs.

With annual expenses averaging around $110,000, the majority of funding comes from sponsorships, fundraising, vendor fees, and community support.

These contributions are essential to cover the costs of fireworks, safety, infrastructure, entertainment, and the many free, family-focused events offered throughout the weekend.

Community support helps ensure the festival remains accessible, sustainable, and something we can continue to grow together year after year.

Fact: The Mudcat Festival costs approximately $110,000 to operate in a typical year.

Major expenses include:

• Fireworks: $30,000–$40,000
• Portable washrooms: ~$8,000
• Insurance, licenses, security, fencing, tents
• Sound systems, tents and live entertainment
• Kids programming, petting zoo, skate park, and more

Every dollar raised through sponsorships, vendors, and licensed areas helps cover these costs. The goal is not profit—it’s to deliver a full weekend of community programming.

Full financials are prepared by an independent accounting firm and shared annually at the Chamber’s AGM.

Fact: The Mudcat Festival creates both direct and indirect value for the Dunnville community.

Beyond offering a wide range of free, family-friendly events and preserving local traditions, the festival plays an important role in supporting and promoting the local economy.

• It brings awareness to everything Dunnville has to offer, attracting visitors and encouraging local exploration
• It provides opportunities for businesses to showcase their brand, connect with customers, and grow
• Whenever possible, we hire local services and purchase locally, meaning many festival expenses—such as insurance, supplies, merchandise, and rentals—flow back into the community

The festival itself was originally started in 1974 by the Kinsmen and local business leaders to help support the town during a time when industries were leaving. Its purpose was to bring people into Dunnville, support local businesses, and strengthen the community—a mission that continues today.

This year, we’ve expanded that impact even further by introducing a month-long Scavenger Hunt and bringing back the Official Mudcat Festival Program, giving local businesses additional exposure leading up to the event.

The Mudcat Festival is more than a weekend—it’s an investment in Dunnville’s visibility, economy, and community spirit.

Fact: 90–95% of Mudcat Festival events are free and family-focused.
This includes:

• Family Movie Night
• The Parade (100+ floats)
• KidZone (entertainment, bouncy castles, face painting, petting zoo)
• Kids Fishing Derby
• RC demonstrations, sports tournaments, and more
• Fireworks over the Grand River

Even our Music on the Grand event runs during the day and is designed for all ages, with live music and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

Fact: The Mudcat Festival is a community-first, family-oriented event.

• Licensed areas (such as Music on the Grand) are time-limited and support festival funding
• Music on the Grand wraps by early evening to transition into family events like fireworks
• The Firefighters Street Dance is a third-party event, run independently as a fundraiser

We proudly support the Firefighters’ long-standing tradition, but it is not the focus of the festival—just one of many events.

Fact: The festival relies on and welcomes community involvement at every level.

You can get involved by:

• Sponsoring an event
• Entering the parade
• Joining Bed Races (race for a cause)
• Registering a softball team
• Volunteering (planning, events, and more!)

We also work to bring back traditions the community loves—like the Grease Pole and Bed Races—but these events depend on participation. Many people enjoy watching, but fewer step forward to take part.