Hill Country Living
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
I was walking down to Crawford Sports Complex this morning when a man strolling past Boundz BBQ Truck asked me if I “made it to the jubilee.” I was puzzled as I didn’t recall any jubilee going on, much less me going to one. I said “no” and kept walking, assuming this man had hallucinated at party that we both attended. I made it all the way to the walking track before it occurred to me that he was referring to the Watermelon Carnival.
Sir, I attended a carnival. Not a jubilee! There’s a difference. I’m not sure what that difference is but I feel it in my bones. I can envision an alternate existence where we all call our carnival the Watermelon Jubilee and that sounds pretty festive, I must admit. Although, I do feel that jubilees involve banjo playing and I just don’t think we’re much of a banjo town.
And I don’t see the need to rebrand as we seem to have just had the most successful Watermelon Carnival yet!
This year broke records and, for once, I don’t mean the heat! The watermelons were bigger, the foot race was bigger, the auction was bigger and the overall attendance was bigger. The fireworks were so much bigger that, at times, one wondered if they were teetering on too big and outside the realms of control. Either way, they were pretty and the red/ green watermelon color theme was lovely. The heat outside was the same as every year, though, holding steady at “bake until bubbly.”
I recall first moving to Water Valley around 20 years ago and, as a newbie, innocently wondering why they put the Watermelon Carnival way down at the end of town far from the main business district. I remember living one block off downtown Main Street and not seeing much evidence of the carnival happening unless you walked a scorching half-mile down to the gazebo park.
Whether me wondering about the carnival placement back then was a valid criticism or not, the placement of the main tent area and stage is certainly a non-issue now! The Watermelon Carnival with its related events and off-shoot community festivities stretches from one end of town to the other and, in doing so, makes the gazebo park a really great spot for the main happenings. Now, in 2024, there’s an abundance of watermelon related content and festivities from Sonic all the way to Rascals!
My favorite Watermelon Carnival event each year is the Saturday morning 3k put on by BankFirst in Water Valley. I think what I like best is getting to jog down the street without getting almost plowed down by a series of moms running late to drop off their children at DES, which is the typical weekday exercising experience in Water Valley. I also enjoy seeing the WVHS cheerleaders standing in the shade of the food trucks along the route and the Water Valley street department parked at their usual spot in front of the old Nallie’s building, all rooting on the racers.
A big annual “Thank you” to the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and all the various folks and businesses who contributed to putting on this year’s festival. Viva la watermelons!
