Last year I posted a roundup of upcoming watermelon festivals, and it seemed to come in handy for a lot of readers, so I’m doing it again this year. Below is a listing of some of the larger festivals, but if I’m missing any (and I’m sure I am), leave a comment and I’ll add it ASAP.
This is only a very short list of all the watermelon festivals out there. For a much longer list, visit the National Watermelon Promotion Board website. I should also point out that the highlights listed below for each festival are only the watermelon-related highlights. Most of these festivals have other things going on, like live music, craft fairs and other fun and games for the whole family.
HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL (June 19-27)
LOCATION: Hampton, South Carolina
HIGHLIGHTS: Melon Miss & Master Pageant, watermelon eating contest, watermelon growing contest, parade
LULING WATERMELON THUMP (June 24-27)
LOCATION: Luling, Texas
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon contest, coronation of watermelon queen, watermelon eating contest, champion watermelon auction, world championship watermelon seed spitting contest
PANHANDLE WATERMELON FESTIVAL (June 25-26)
LOCATION: Shipley, Florida
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon beauty pageant (not sure whether this one is for people or watermelons), big watermelon contest and auction, watermelon seed spitting contest
BEAUREGARD WATERMELON FESTIVAL (June 25-27)
LOCATION: DeRidder, Louisiana
HIGHLIGHTS: “Cutting of the Melon” kick-off event, celebrity seed spitting contest
PAGELAND WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 16-17)
LOCATION: Pageland, South Carolina
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon seed spitting contest, watermelon eating contest (right)
MISSISSIPPI WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 23-24)
LOCATION: Mize, Mississippi
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon seed spitting contest, watermelon eating contest, greased watermelon race (I’m praying that someone captures this event on video)
LOUISIANA WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 29-31)
LOCATION: Farmerville, Louisiana
HIGHLIGHTS: watermelon seed spitting contest, largest watermelon contest, watermelon decorating, watermelon hunt, watermelon auction, watermelon quality and tasting competition, arm wrestling contest (I know the last event isn’t watermelon-related, but an arm wrestling contest is pretty cool, so I gave it a mention)
HOPE WATERMELON FESTIVAL (August 12-14)
LOCATION: Hope, Arkansas
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon Olympics (with a watermelon toss, among other events), a seed spitting contest, “Watermelon Idol” talent show, watermelon eating contest.
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