![\"NWPB-0002_2016CarvingContest_Logo\"](\"https:\/\/www.whataboutwatermelon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/NWPB-0002_2016CarvingContest_Logo-532x1024.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nYes, you read that correctly \u2014 the 2016 Watermelon Carving Contest has arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This year, we\u2019re doing things a little differently, which is why you\u2019re reading about this in February instead of June or July. We decided that, since you can\u2019t rush perfection, we wanted to give carvers a little more time to create some pretty amazing masterpieces.<\/p>\n
You can create a carving now \u2014 don\u2019t forget to take a photo of the carving AND a photo of you with the carving \u2014 and then submit your carving when the contest entry period starts in July (don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll be posting reminders about the contest and the start of the entry period throughout the year).<\/p>\n
And remember: Creativity is key<\/strong><\/em> to impressing the judges, both in terms of the creativity of your overall idea and the creativity of the staging (background) of your carving.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s contest also features some new categories, with entries (and prizes) in each category divided into \u201cBeginner\u201d and \u201cExperienced\u201d groups of contestants:<\/p>\n And, of course, there will be some pretty sweet prizes. Each category will have a $100 first place winner for the experienced carvers and a $100 first place prize for the beginner carvings. Our judges will also choose a $250 \u201cJudges\u2019 Choice\u201d winner from all of the carvings from both the experienced and beginner entries. And, finally, the public will vote online to determine the overall $250 People\u2019s Choice winner.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for more updates and carving inspiration throughout the year. In the meantime, go ahead and start carving. And remember\u2026you can submit as many carvings as you\u2019d like!<\/p>\n UP NEXT: A SWEET VALENTINE\u2019S RECIPE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yes, you read that correctly \u2014 the 2016 Watermelon Carving Contest has arrived.\u00a0 This year, we\u2019re doing things a little differently, which is why you\u2019re reading about this in February instead of June or July. We decided that, since you can\u2019t rush perfection, we wanted to give carvers a little more time to create some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[641,199,8,228],"class_list":{"0":"post-2105","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-watermelon-carving","8":"tag-2016-watermelon-carving-contest","9":"tag-carving-contest","10":"tag-watermelon","11":"tag-watermelon-carving-2","12":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n\n