Welcome To The Watermelon Metropolis Of The World
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City Park will be packed with vendors selling crafts and activities for youngsters.
Welcome to the 53rd Annual Watermelon Carnival.
For many Carnival goers, this weekend is a homecoming – family get-togethers and reminiscing. That is the beauty of the annual carnival, different events for everybody.
Don’t want to miss a single event?
We have compiled the Herald’s official carnival checklist for the adventurous fun-seekers with an itinerary that starts Friday around noon with the first stroll through City Park. Many of the vendors will be set up and ready to see you, and this first stop should include one of those delicious corn dogs, funnel cake or other carnival favorite. There is nothing like a bite of carnival cuisine to get your juices flowing for the big weekend.
You are on your own for the next few hours for shopping in the park, but remember to pace yourself to keep from fading in the heat. Next on the agenda is a new event, a fashion show for all ages at the gazebo in City Park. The show starts at 5 p.m. with six watermelon-themed categories that include Mommy & Me, Designer’s Choice, Festive Friends (two or more model together), Kids (10 and under), Preteen Plus and Adult.
Jacob King, a local favorite, returns to the carnival’s entertainment lineup this year. He will sing at 4 p.m. at the gazebo. King last appeared in the carnival in 2016.
Next is the 6 p.m. opening ceremony in front of Renasant Bank on Central Street as Mayor Donald Gray will welcome the crowd and the Watermelon Royalty will be introduced. At 6:15 you will want to find a good spot at the corner of Central Street and North Court Street to watch Watermelon Queen Anna Clair Shaw drop a melon from a perch high in the air as she is hoisted up in the electric department’s bucket truck.
Now it is time to find a good spot in front of the Central Street stage for the Street Dance that gets underway at 7. Husband and wife duo Kevin and Bethany Paige are back by popular demand after an amazing show during last year’s Street Dance. The dynamic musical couple have entertained as regulars on Beale Street in Memphis for over two decades. They started performing together after successful individual music careers. Kevin had two top 20 Billboard songs, “Don’t Shut Me Out” and “Anything I Want” on Chrysalis records in 1989 and 1990. Bethany’s vocals are some of the sweetest and most powerful you can hear any weekend in the Bluff City.
As the music blares and the light fades, the carnival crowd peaks for the big weekend with thousands expected in City Park. There are also plenty of carnival gatherings outside the park as visiting is in full swing for many who enjoy the action from a distance. And you don’t have to be in the park to enjoy the next event as the Mechanics Bank+BankFirst Fireworks Show illuminates the entire city at 9 p.m. The fireworks come during the intermission for the Street Dance. The music continues until 11 p.m. and then it is time to head home to get rested for another big day if you are going to soak in all the fun!
The action starts with a bang Saturday morning as hundreds will compete in the Mechanics Bank+BankFirst 3K Run/Walk. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. and registration gets underway an hour earlier at the pavilion in Railroad Park. Another popular event, the contestants range from hard-core runners to folks out for a fun morning stroll.
Next door at the Casey Jones Railroad Museum the Water Valley Lions Club will start serving breakfast even earlier, as hot pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee will be ready at 6 a.m. The plates cost $6 and will be served until 10 a.m.
Once you get your belly full, the next stop on the Herald’s carnival checklist is a walk through Shuffield Park to enjoy the annual car show. There are plenty of shiny oldies to check out. It’s probably a good idea to avoid temptation here, all of those beautiful vehicles will give you an itch for your own classic hotrod. The vintage vehicles will start lining up for the annual parade that rolls through town at 11 a.m.
Across the street from Shuffield Park in the City Hall parking lot, the Chamber has added another new event that starts at 8:30 p.m. “Touch A Truck” is geared for children who love seeing those big trucks. The line-up includes fire trucks, wreckers, dump trucks and others for up-close viewing.
After enjoying the action in the middle of the city, it is time to head back to City Park. The Chamber has a talented lineup of musicians who will perform at the gazebo throughout the day. TomFoolry starts the entertainment from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by Alanna Mosley until noon.
The afternoon lineup includes Pharm Truck from 12:30 to 1:30, Tanner Mills for the next hour with Joe Austin and the Tallahatchies following from 2:30 to 4. Local favorite Jacob King closes the action in his first carnival appearance since 2016.
The official carnival checklist continues with a quick trip to purchase a Taster’s Choice ticket behind Renasant Bank. If you are lucky enough to snag one of 100 tickets, you can partake in some of the finest barbecue cooking in the world as part of the Train Tracks Pork Attack BBQ Contest. The food should be ready around noon and the $10 ticket purchases a sampling from each team signed up in this category. The competing teams are competing for your vote to win $1,500.
The watermelon fun continues at 11 a.m. in front of Webb Medical Clinic with the Junior Auxiliary’s watermelon games. Competitor or spectator, don’t miss the watermelon eating, seed spitting and melon tossing contest. Be sure to keep a check on the time, you need to be back over at the gazebo a little before noon for the biggest event of the day. The big watermelons will be lined up for judging at high noon. For a little added fun, get in on the auction that follows as the prize-winning watermelons are offered to the public. If you don’t have enough of those long-wheel-base $10 bills in your wallet, you can always stand behind one of your deep-pocketed friends and bid for him.
It’s now time for a little hydration and you can’t spend the day at the Watermelon Carnival without tasting a sweet watermelon. Cayce Washington and his family will be serving free melon slices at the southwest corner of City Park at 1 p.m. The remaining afternoon hours are for shopping, visiting, listening to music and enjoying carnival food. If you are brave, and make it all afternoon, the winners of the Train Tracks Pork Attack BBQ Contest will be announced at 5 at the gazebo.
