Mud Fest success encourages more events at Williams Hill Pass

SALINE COUNTY – The success of a national mud racing event at Williams Hill Pass OHV Park south of Harrisburg means plans for more events are in the works, organizers say.

Southern Illinois Mud Fest, a three-day extravaganza of mud racing and related activities, kicked off June 30 and ran through July 2.

Keith Hawkins of Countryside Mud Racing said attendance results showed the public had a strong interest in the event, which also showcased live bands and hosted members of CMT reality show "Party Down South."

"The numbers we're looking at showed between 1,100 and 1,200 people in attendance, and we think there's probably several that didn't get counted," Hawkins said.

Hawkins, who has been involved in mud racing now for several years, said he functioned as Mud Fest's promoter. Attendance was good enough many of this year's sponsors want to bring it back, he said.

"Plus, we've got other potential additions interested," Hawkins said. "AMP Motorsports was here looking at the setup, and we might have mega truck racing in the future."

Mega trucks racing, Hawkins explained, is an off-road racing sport where trucks are fitted with large tractor tires and compete on a course containing many jumps and obstacles.

"They spend a lot of time in the air," he said.

Hawkins said for him, it was a testament to the facilities available at Williams Hill Pass, owned by Jimi Williams-Cox of Harrisburg.

"Williams Hill Pass has been sitting there forever, and I've always felt like it was a hidden gem," he said. "Something like this, though, has a lot of people taking notice now."

Williams-Cox said plenty of events are planned at her facility and already have received significant interest.

"During the upcoming eclipse, we already have all of our cabins and spots with electrical hookups booked, although we still have plenty of room if someone wants to set up a tent," she said. "We have an up-and-coming musician named John King from Nashville coming here to entertain and we're talking about the possibility of an eclipse-lit trail ride during that time."

Other events are planned for this fall, Williams-Cox said.

She said she was excited by the number of people who visited Williams Hill Pass during Mud Fest.

"People kept just pouring in," she said.

For more information about upcoming events at Williams Hill Pass, contact the facility at (618) 252-6968.