The Countdown To Carnival Begins
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About this time of year in Water Valley, you can feel it starting.
Somebody mentions the Carnival in the grocery store aisle. Somebody else asks when the T-shirts will be ready. Folks start wondering who will have a booth, who will be playing music, who is coming home for the weekend, and whether this might finally be the year somebody hauls in a watermelon big enough to make everybody stop and stare.
That can only mean one thing. The Watermelon Carnival is getting close. This year’s Watermelon Carnival will be held Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, and the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is already looking forward to another weekend filled with the people, traditions, and hometown energy that make Carnival such a special part of summer in Water Valley.
For those of us who have been around it for years, the Carnival is more than something to attend. It is something we measure summer by. It is the sound of music drifting through town, the sight of families walking together through the park, the smell of something good cooking, and the happy confusion of running into three people you meant to call, two people you have not seen in years, and at least one cousin you did not know was coming.
There is always something about Carnival weekend that makes Water Valley feel especially like itself.
Of course, anticipation is already building for the Largest Watermelon Contest. Around here, a watermelon is not just a watermelon. It can be a garden project, a family effort, a little friendly competition, and, if all goes well, a very heavy source of bragging rights. There is just something wonderful about seeing people gather around to admire a watermelon big enough to deserve its own introduction.
The Chamber will be sharing more Carnival details in the coming weeks, including information about events, activities, and all the things that make the weekend come together. And yes, one of the most-asked-about Carnival traditions is on the way too. This year’s Watermelon Carnival T-shirt designs will be unveiled soon, so be watching for that announcement.
Vendors are also a big part of what makes Carnival weekend so much fun. From food to crafts to local businesses and community groups, vendors help give the Carnival its color, flavor, and front-porch feeling. Anyone interested in being a vendor at this year’s Carnival is encouraged to contact the Chamber office for more information.
Whether you grew up going to the Watermelon Carnival, have made it part of your family’s summer tradition, or are planning to come for the first time, we hope you will mark your calendar now for Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1.
The Watermelon Carnival is on the way, and before long Water Valley will be doing what Water Valley does best: welcoming folks in, catching up, showing off a little, and enjoying a summer weekend together.
For decades, Tommy Latham and his custom “What A Melon” wagon have been part of the Watermelon Carnival tradition. Latham uses the wagon to haul giant contest watermelons to the Largest Watermelon Contest in City Park.
