Cloncurry Events

Friday, August 2, 2013

Curry Merry Muster Festival (Rodeo)

Each year, thousands make their way to Cloncurry for one of outback Australia's leading events.  The Ernest Henry Mining Curry Merry Muster Festival boasts a leading professional rodeo, Merry Muster Race Meeting, Mardi Gras, street parade and 3 day festival of family entertainment.

Steeped in history, the event was kick-off over 50 years ago in 1954.  Back in those days, the men and women who got together to start the first Merry Muster, would never of anticipated that this event would have ended up being the largest gathering in Cloncurry every year.

Merry Muster Program at a glance:

Merry Muster is now not just about rodeo. It is a celebration for the entire community.

With the reintroduction of the street party to kick start the whole event, it sees the greater part of the community come together for Mardi Gras street parade and festival. A time for the whole family to enjoy.

About the Rodeo:

The Curry Merry Muster Festival is now renowned as one of the leading professional Rodeo’s in Australia. The Merry Muster has developed in recent years to be the largest single payout rodeo in Australia.

The stock used have improved from brumbies and local stock in the early days to highly professional and talented string contracted rough stock. Our main contractors are Gill Brothers and Allen and Jenny Remfrey. The Merry Muster is affiliated with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) and conforms to their guidelines to make the rodeo an event with some of the most professional standards for competitors, livestock, officials and most importantly spectators.

The Merry Muster the largest single payout rodeo in Australia because when a contestant wins an event at our rodeo, they will win more money for a single ride than at any other rodeo event in Australia.

START DECORATING YOUR FLOAT NOW FOR THE CURRY MERRY MUSTER FESTIVAL MARDI GRAS STREET PARADE

Street Parade

The iconic Street Parade has been apart of the “Merry Muster” for many years. The local community groups come together to showcase their themed floats or vehicle entries to the Cloncurry spectators!     

The procession will be formally led by a Police Escort & Fire Engine, then followed by the marching horses parading Sponsors flags and promoting the APRA Rodeo circuit. We take pride involving competitors within the parade as well, so look out for Australian Champions like Shane Kenny, Cherie O’Donoghue and Australia’s Rodeo Queen.

Procession to start 6pm Friday. Keep an eye out in Ramsay Street & Scarr Street, Cloncurry!

Bushmans Bash

The Bushmans Bash follows on from the Street Parade at the Cloncurry Recreational Showgrounds on King Street. There you will be entertained, wowed by a taste of Rodeo, fed by the numerous amounts of stalls held by the local community groups and organisations, and simply watered and our golden waterhole.

Awards will be given to the winners of the Street Parade early in the night followed by Rodeo action to start at 7pm. Featured events will include the Open Bull Ride and Open Saddle Bronc.

The Bushmans Bash is a free fun night for all. So gates on King Street will be open for the public and please be kind to donate when you see the volunteers going around for gold coin donations.

Teddy Bears Picnic                                                    

Created in 2011, the Teddy Bears Picnic helped children under 5 participate within the festival in a friendly way. Children are encouraged to dress their Teddies up in a Picnic outfit and compete against others for a prize within their age group. There are also activities such as a Bear Hunt, Honey Pot Poking and Face Painting.

Of course there are picnic goodies to be had, all of course generously donated by the Curry Merry Muster Festival. The Teddy Bears Picnic is a small but successful start to an amazing weekend, which starts at 9am, Mary Kathleen Park, McIlwraith St, Cloncurry.

Over $1500 in prizes up for offer! Celebrate this fantastic event and have fun creating your float. Afterwards street party with entertainement, jump zone, games for the kids, food, Bushman's Bash and lots more.