Tucson, AZ

We’ve been having a pretty mild summer in Tucson, but it’s still something hot, of course. When there was a dearth of rain for a few days in the middle of the monsoon, that didn’t stop us from still finding a way to cool off, though, and we even got to play in the mud at Mud Monster, the mud puddle party in Reid Park!

I went actually expecting a smaller event, perhaps just a mud-filled obstacle course - I couldn’t really fathom what else might be put together, or how much mud could really be conjured in the heat. I realized when I got to the park mid-morning, however, that I probably should have come earlier – it was downright busy with crowds of smiling and cheering people doing a variety of muddy activities!

Mud Monster ran from 8am to noon, and I arrived at about 10:30am, after a ten minute drive from near the University of Arizona. The parking lot I turned into was off of Country Club Road at the southwest corner of the park and was entirely full, but there’s another large lot that can be found if you enter after turning onto East 22nd Street. That said, it would have been smarter to get there earlier nonetheless in terms of getting the waiver signed for being able to participate – there was quite a line by that point.

The lines for each activity certainly seemed worth it! After strolling through some shady tents packed with people chowing down on the available food (and they of course had the perennial Tucson favorite Eegee’s), the first thing I saw was the obstacle course. Bounded by orange caution fences and cheering spectators, two people at a time would race through hanging inner tubes, mud pits, over and under obstacles, climb ramps and slide with a splash….needless to say, there were plenty of things to watch for and clap and cheer.

Nearby was a huge mud puddle, perfect for some wrestling or just good old fashioned playing in the mud, and I saw plenty of parents and kids doing both. Strolling around, I realized I was in an area more for the younger folk, with a shady set of tables with heaps of toys and buckets for making mud castles. The area also included umbrella-protected kid pools, each with a parent and toddler smiling away.

In fact, every person I passed was grinning from ear to ear, me included – it was simply a fun, happy environment. Passing a young mariachi band on the main stage, there were muddy, sploshy volleyball courts for both adults and kids. Then I circled back around the obstacle course – passing a pretty intense race between Air Force and Marine Corps – and noted the convenient showers for getting off the coating of mud. I was suddenly showered myself, not by any monsoon rain (though it sure felt like it), but by firetrucks creating artificial sunshowers. And everyone underneath, smiling!

As I walked back towards where the refreshments were, I realized it is pretty inevitable that you’ll get your feet and legs muddy, just from walking around. So, a swimsuit and sandals would probably be a good bet, or clothes you don’t mind getting spattered at the least and soaked at the best. Either way, it was one of the happiest places I’ve seen – mud, water, and entertainment for the whole family was the perfect summer opportunity for Tucson!