Events

Friday, June 22, 2012

Croydon Poddy Dodgers Festival (Outback Festivals)

When first settled in the 1880s Croydon was a large pastoral holding.

Following the discovery of gold in 1885, the town swelled to become a rich, booming, gold mining town and the 4th largest town in Queensland but returned to its pastoral beginnings when gold became scarce by 1926.

To celebrate Croydon’s pastoral heritage Croydon Rodeo & Camp draft Association Inc proudly (and with tongue-in-cheek) present a fun filled weekend each June with the Croydon Poddy Dodgers Festival.

Events Include:

• World Title Wild Cow Milking competition
• Mutton Busting (Kids rodeo on a sheep)
• Greasy Pig Chase
• Team Roping
• Steer Wrestling
• Stockman’s Challenge
• Poddy Dodging Challenge
• Kids Horse Sports Events
• Open Bull Ride
• Junior Bull Ride
• Bullock Ride
• Camp Oven Cook Competition
• Crosscut Saw Competition
• Poddy Ride
• Tug of War

The Sheep Auction and much more rounded out with Mechanical Bull Ride Competition, Themed Fancy Dress Dance and Live Music, Markets, Kids Lolly Drop and Street Parade make for an action packed fun weekend.

Over $10,000.00 in prize money (and a pig) are too be won.

Throw in Free Entry & Camping at the Rodeo Grounds all weekend and you have a hard-to-beat cracker of a weekend.

After the festival why not stay on for a few days and enjoy all that the area has to offer before either taking on the Savannah Way West towards the NT or East to Cairns on the next leg of your Gulf Savannah adventure.

Croydon offers a unique window into its history with the many National Trust and Heritage listed buildings that line the streets as well as being the eastern terminus of the “nowhere to nowhere” (Croydon to Normanton) service of the Gulflander train – a truly unique rail journey.

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