ICG’s International Mud Day Celebration
June 20, 2026 | 10 am-1 pm
Join us at Ithaca Children’s Garden for one of our messiest and most beloved traditions: International Mud Day! This globally recognized event is a perfect opportunity for kids and families to immerse themselves in the joy of connecting with nature through mud. Last year, more than 1,000 gallons of water transformed ICG’s Hands-On Nature Anarchy Zone into a glorious muddy playground — and this year promises even more muddy fun. Kids and families are invited to jump, slide, splash, dig, create, and fully embrace the joy of getting dirty outdoors. Our muddy wonderland will feature mud pits, mud slides, mud art, mud painting, hands-on activities, and endless opportunities for imaginative play and exploration. Whether it’s your child’s first muddy adventure or your family’s annual tradition, International Mud Day is all about joyful connection — to nature, to community, and to the simple magic of play. Featured activities and performers include:
This program was made possible in part by a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program.
Cultural Connections
What is International Mud Day all about?
International Mud Day has its origin at the World Forum for Early Childhood Care and Education in Belfast when two members of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children, Gillian McAuliffe from Western Australia and Bishnu Bhatta from Nepal, worked together to overcome the challenges their communities faced in playing with mud.
Many of the children from orphanages Bishnu Bhatta worked with in Nepal didn’t have enough clothes to be able to get them dirty. Gillian McAulife shared this story with a class of 7 and 8 year old students at the school she directed in Australia and the class raised money to provide extra clothes to the kids in Nepal. On the same day that year, the children in Nepal and Australia celebrated with a day of muddy play, instigating a global day of nature celebration!
In 2012, the first International Mud Day Celebration in the Northeast of the US took place at the Hands-on-Nature Anarchy Zone in Ithaca Children’s Garden!
In Nepal, Mud Day marks the beginning of the rice-growing season. It is a celebration of the nature that provides the ideal place to plant rice, the commodity that will later sustain the community. Apart from sustaining the Garden’s children all year in the Hands-On-Nature Anarchy Zone, Ithaca Children’s Garden’s mud becomes a home for frogs, a bath for the birds, and the nutrients and support for lots of different plants in an ecological community. In 2013, rice was planted at Ithaca Children’s Garden as a gesture of unity with Nepal – a grain that used to grow wild along the banks of the Great Lakes where it was gathered by the ancestors of the members of the Seneca Nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to pre-register? Advance registration is encouraged to help us plan, but not required.
- What should we wear? Mud Day is gloriously messy — and that’s the point! Dress for getting completely muddy and wet from head to toe. Closed-toe shoes with straps or secure water shoes work best. Flip flops tend to disappear in the mud!
- What should we bring? Consider bringing a full change of clothes for each attendee, extra shoes, towels for drying off and protecting car seats on the ride home, and a bag or bin for muddy clothes and shoes.
- What should we expect for rinse-off and changing areas? We’ll have multiple hose-off stations for a quick rinse, a limited number of changing stalls, and a porta-potty on site. Please note that wait times for changing areas may happen during busy periods. If possible, come prepared for a quick towel-dry and change outdoors or at your vehicle.
- Will food be available for purchase? Concessions — including popcorn, popsicles, and light snacks — will be available for purchase (cash and Venmo preferred).
- How much does the event cost? The suggested donation is $5 per person or $15 per family. If that amount is a barrier, please choose the amount that works for you — including $0 — at checkout. Your participation matters most, and this option is made possible through community support.
- What should I do if I have specific access needs or want to request an accommodation? We strive to create an inclusive, welcoming environment and will do our best to support participation for guests with disabilities. Please contact Trey Ramsey, Outreach and Inclusion Manager, at trey@ithacachildrensgarden.org
- I have a question that wasn’t answered here. Who should I contact? Please email info@ithacachildrensgarden.org
Volunteer
Interested in volunteering at International Mud Day?
Volunteers will staff activity stations, assist with concessions, help with setup and cleanup, and more. Morning, midday, and all-day shifts available.
Learn more by clicking the button below.
Accessibility & Inclusion
ICG welcomes all members of our community to enjoy International Mud Day. We strive to create an inclusive, welcoming environment and will do our best to support participation for guests with disabilities.
- Amplified music will be used at this event (Travis Knapp will play two 45-minute sets by the Rice Paddy Pond).
- Accessible parking spaces will be clearly labeled
- Paths are generally wheelchair-accessible (mostly 5 feet wide; some areas narrow to ~3 feet)
- Some portions of the Garden include uneven terrain or steeper slopes
If you have specific access needs or would like to request an accommodation, please contact Trey Ramsey, Outreach and Inclusion Manager, at trey@ithacachildrensgarden.org.
Create a Muddy Play Space
Muddy play can be a joyous sensory experience. At Ithaca Children’s Garden we’re fortunate to have the Hands-on-Nature Anarchy Zone where mud pits are a usual sight. Bring some of that muddy play home by creating a muddy play space in your yard, or even inside.
This setup is ideal if you don’t have much space. Find a shady spot, roughly 4’x4’. A little smaller will work as well. Look for items you can recycle for your muddy play space.
Make a Clean Mud Sensory Bin
Looking for all the fun of mud play without the mud? Give clean “mud” a try. It’s just as fun to make as it is to play with!
This activity is best designed for 2-6 year olds with some supervision, while 7+ can potentially do this independently.
Mix Up Some Mud Paint
Mud paint makes rich and earthy shades of color. It’s easy to make and a great way to celebrate mud. You can paint paper, large sheets of fabric, or your body.