The 47th Annual Watermelon Carnival Is A Week Away
The 47th Annual Watermelon Carnival Is A Week Away
By Linda White
Herald Contributor
Since 1980, Water Valley’s annual Watermelon Carnival in City Park has been bringing people together for a fun-filled weekend of music, crafts, dancing, fireworks, craft and car exhibits, good food, and family and class reunions.
A major event in the southeast, the two-day carnival is a “Don’t Miss It, or You’ll Regret It” combination of continuous music, arts & craft booths, car show, and free trolley rides to down-town shops and galleries. Water Valley’s own Casey Jones Railroad Museum is located in the heart of down-town Water Valley, at the former ICRR Depot.
The street dance on Friday night is followed by a spectacular fireworks display. On Saturday the day starts with a 3K race/walk. The mouth-watering Train Track Pork Attack BBQ Contest is another popular event on Saturday. New to the line-up this year will be a Dog Costume Contest.
The Watermelon Queen and her court will be presented in the City Park gazebo. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest watermelon at noon Saturdy. The competition is always intense and past entries have even included a state record melon.
Kids of all ages will enjoy competing in the watermelon games that include seed-spitting, melon eating and throwing real melons – fun events for the contestants and spectators. Don’t forget ice-cold melon slices will be served, a welcomed activity to guaranteed to “beat the heat.”
The lineup includes more special events and activities for all ages, literally there is something for everyone at the carnival.
(Editor’s Note: The Herald’s carnival coverage gets started this week with an overview of the events, and will continue next week with detailed coverage of the event in the annual Watermelon Carnival supplement.)
