Annual Australian Mulletfest at Kurri Kurri NSW brings together some of the most outrageous ‘dos

The Australian Open, soccer finals and the Melbourne Cup are major events on the competitive calendar, but any self-respecting Australian knows that Mulletfest is truly the event that defines the nation.

Contestants train their locks for years, arranging them to perfection to create the ultimate ‘business first, party behind’ look.

They compete in a variety of categories, including ‘rangas’, vintage (for over 50s), dirty, extreme, everyday, and even novice, for those with a mullet less than two years old.

On Saturday, the event returns for a series at The Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri, NSW, where the iconic ‘do celebration was dreamed of in 2018.

Laura Johnson had been looking for a way to create some clean family fun and a shot of tourism for a city struggling after the closure of an aluminum smelter that had employed generations of locals.

Contestants train their locks for years, grooming them to perfection to create the ultimate ‘business up front, party back’ look (Weston’s Jacob Frew and Kurri’s Dylan Dudley pictured during Mulletfest)

Even newbies can be candidates for those with a mullet under two years old (9-year-old Slayte Reid of East Maitland pictured on Saturday)

Growing from its fringe roots, the competition has expanded to a series of meets taking place across Australia, from Rockhampton to Perth to Alice Springs.

The winner of each category and the overall winner are announced at the Mulletfest Grand Finale, which will take place in the Hunter Valley on December 2.

Mulletfest organizers might describe the 6,000-strong Kurri Kurri as “the town that was saved by the mullet,” but the phenomenon is far from a locals-only affair.

As the mane movement gained momentum, proud mullet wearers made pilgrimages to the pub from all over the world, including from Norway, North America and the UK.

“If you feel like a stranger anywhere else, at Mulletfest you’ll feel like part of the family,” the organizers said.

“We understand that it’s the man or woman under the hair that matters… (and) that maybe the heart is as big as the hair.”

The winner of each category and the overall winner are announced at the Mulletfest Grand Finale, taking place in the Hunter Valley on December 2 (previous winner, now judge Liam Arnold at the event)

On Saturday, the event returns for a series at The Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri, NSW, where the iconic ‘do celebration was dreamed up in 2018 (Pictured Reg Warry, two, at event)

Growing from its fringe roots, the competition has expanded to a series of meets taking place across Australia, from Rockhampton to Perth to Alice Springs (pictured Emile and son Caleb Pacevski at Kurri Kurri on Saturday)

Mulletfest organizers might describe the 6,000-strong Kurri Kurri in New South Wales as “the town that was saved by the mullet,” but the phenomenon is far from just a locals affair (pictured, Jaxson Brown , five)

“If you feel like an outsider anywhere else, at Mulletfest you’ll feel like part of the family,” organizers said (pictured, partygoer Dylan Dudley watching the scene).

‘We understand that it is [what is] under the hair that matters… maybe the heart is as big as the hair,’ organizers said (pictured: Ollie Mordue, 4, of West Wallsend, showing off his style)