What About Watermelon?

The five-minute video above is a great snapshot (videoshot?) of the legendary Luling Watermelon Thump festival in Luling, Texas. The Luling Watermelon Thump is the host of the biggest seed-spitting contest in America, but it’s just one of many watermelon festivals held throughout the nation each year.

If you’re hoping to combine fun and watermelon this year, below is a calendar of events. New additions to this year’s list are the Wright’s Market Watermelon Festival (the northernmost festival on the calendar) and the Arkansas Valley Fair Watermelon Day. If I’m missing any festivals, please leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

Also, if anyone visits any of these festivals (or others), send me some pictures (watermelonexperts@gmail.com) and I’ll post them here on What About Watermelon!

HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL (June 22-30)

LOCATION: Hampton, South Carolina

HIGHLIGHTS: Melon Miss & Master Pageant, watermelon eating contest, watermelon growing contest, parade

LULING WATERMELON THUMP (June 27-30)

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 22-23)

LOCATION: Chipley, 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 (Late June, but 2013 date TBD)

LOCATION: DeRidder, Louisiana

HIGHLIGHTS: “Cutting of the Melon” kick-off event, celebrity seed spitting contest

WRIGHT’S MARKET WATERMELON FESTIVAL (late July last year, 2013 date TBD)

LOCATION: Mardela Springs, MD

HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon games, live music, petting zoo, contests, crafts

PAGELAND WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 19-20)

LOCATION: Pageland, South Carolina
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon seed-spitting contest, watermelon eating contest.

MISSISSIPPI WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 19-20)

LOCATION: Mize, Mississippi
HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon seed-spitting contest, watermelon eating contest, greased watermelon race.

LOUISIANA WATERMELON FESTIVAL (July 25-27)

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 last year, but 2013 dates TBD)

LOCATION: Hope, Arkansas

HIGHLIGHTS: Watermelon Olympics (with a watermelon toss, among other events), a seed-spitting contest, “Watermelon Idol” talent show, watermelon eating contest

ARKANSAS VALLEY FAIR WATERMELON DAY (August 17)

LOCATION: Rocky Ford, Colorado

HIGHLIGHTS: Free watermelon, seed-spitting contest, watermelon carving contest, watermelon derby horse race