47th Annual Carnival Starts Thursday
Cohen Trusty and Tate Pullen are featured on the cover of this year’s carnival schedule inside the Herald. The pair carefully inspect this year’s watermelon crop prior to the carnival. The carnival section features an in-depth look at weekend happenings.
47th Annual Carnival Starts Thursday
Staff Report
WATER VALLEY – It’s that time of year again. For the 47th time in the city’s history, the watermelon will be celebrated.
Thousands will gather at City Park and all around town to participate in activities that range from a walk/run to class reunions, all set to a musical beat provided by day long entertainment from the park gazebo.
Activities kick off Thursday night with the Watermelon Carnival Music Festival sponsored by the Town and County Garden Club. The annual musical treat will feature the Community Band, known affectionately as the Melon Band, as the opener. Watermelon Queen Addey Welch will also be presented.
Music at the gazebo gets underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. with Jacob King after the opening ceremonies. The Rensant Bank Street Dance sponsored by Renasant Bank starts at 8 p.m. with the talented Eisenhower Band. The music will pause for the 9 p.m. Mechanics Bank fireworks show.
Friday will feature all day shopping at City Park, which sponsors promise will feature more arts and crafts and less foreign made products this year. Food vendors will be offering a wide range of festival and carnival style food items to tempt the taste buds.
Singers Melvin Mordecai and Marshall Allred will provide music from the gazebo from 4 until 6 p.m. when opening ceremonies begin. Water Valley Mayor Larry Hart will welcome carnival attendees and Jennifer Dean will sing the National Anthem. Jacob King takes the stage at 6:30 for the final act before the action shifts over to Central Street as the Street Dance gets going at 8 p.m. The talented Eisenhauer Band will take the stage for the Street Dance, sponsored by Renasant Bank until the Mechanics Banks fireworks show lights up the sky at 9 p.m. between sets.
Saturday morning activities start early with the 29th annual 3K run/walk at 7:30 a.m. sponsored by Mechanics Bank and the 21st annual car display in Shuffield Park at 8 a.m.
At 8:30 a.m. music begins at City Park with Kate Keely on the gazebo.
The air conditioned trolley begins its runs between City Park and downtown at 10 a.m. so that visitors can get a taste of downtown shops, boutiques and restaurants.
At 11 a.m. the watermelon games begin at the Renasant Bank parking lot followed by the largest melon contest at noon.
Ice cold watermelon slices will be served at the south end of the park beginning at 1 p.m. and music will resume from the gazebo at 1:30 with Tanner Mills. Eric Deaton, followed by the Oxford All Stars will follow on the gazebo. At 4 p.m., the Second Chance Animal Alliance will present the dog costume contest.
At 5:15 the Train Tracks Pork Attack winners will be announced as the carnival winds down for the year.
