Planning Continues For 27th Annual Carnival
Water Valley Chamber Manager Bonnie Cox and President Joe Newman take a peek at the newly arrived carnival program. – Photo by Jesse Gurner
Staff Report
WATER VALLEY – Make a spot in the ‘frig and call them relatives in – in under two weeks time, Water Valley will once again strut her stuff in the form of the 2007 Watermelon Carnival.
Months of planning will culminate Aug. 2 in the Civic Auditorium at 7 p.m. when the Watermelon Music Festival kicks off the 27th annual Carnival, where friendship and fellowship are the name, melons and fun the game.
And in between your mouthfuls of melon and laughter of pleasure, you’ll surely find something to take part in, or maybe just take in.
After the Music Festival Thursday, when the Watermelon Queen and her court will be presented, Friday begins at 4 p.m. when Elvis impersonator Will Atkinson takes the gazebo in City Park. Derek Stone and his band will follow at 5 p.m., before Mayor Bill Norris gives his annual welcome.
Later, the famous Street Dance will take place, featuring tunes from the local band, Class Reunion. The dance is sponsored by Renasant Bank.
Don’t wear yourself out Friday night though, the Carnival’s Saturday is once again chock-full of entertaining highlights that you won’t want to miss.
The entertain kicks off at 9 a.m. in City Park with a performance by the Water Valley Devil Dolls. Following them at 9:30 a.m. will be Jada Melton, and an hour later, catch Kate Logan.
The music and entertainment continues with Braden Gray and Loose Gravel (11 a.m.).
Then at noon, you don’t want to miss the Largest Watermelon Contest. The contest has become a highlight of the famous weekend, and some of these farmers take it pretty serious.
At 12:30 p.m., you’ll get Michael Locke; at 1 p.m. local band Big Yank; at 2:30 p.m. Matthew King; at 3:30 p.m. Sweat Productions; at 4 p.m. local favorite Brad Van Winkle; and at 5 p.m. you get Victum.
The contests of the Carnival include the 8 a.m. 3-Mile Run/Walk; the 1 p.m. Watermelon Eating Contest; and the 1:30 p.m. Seed Spitting Contest.
And as always, Mechanics Bank will be giving away ice cold slices of watermelon in front of their location on Main Street at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Hope to see you there.
