49th Carnival Gets Underway Thursday

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – It’s that time of year again. For the 49th time in the city’s history, the watermelon will be celebrated  this weekend.

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 at 6:30 p.m. with the Watermelon Carnival Music Festival sponsored by the Town and Country Garden Club. The annual musical treat will feature local talent.

Friday will feature all day shopping at city park with plenty of arts and crafts alongside food vendors offering a wide range of festival and carnival style food items to tempt the taste buds.

On Friday, singer Melvin Mordecal followed by Talbot Adams will provide music from the gazebo from 4 to 6 p.m. when the opening ceremonies begin. Water Valley Mayor Donald Gray will welcome carnival attendees and Coulter Clement will sing the National Anthem. The Whiskey Barrel Band will take the gazebo stage from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The street dance sponsored by Renasant Bank will get underway at 8 p.m. with the Oxford All-Stars. An intermission is scheduled for the Mechanics Bank fireworks show at 9 a.m.. 

Saturday morning activities start early with the 31st annual 3K run/walk at 7:30 a.m. sponsored by Mechanics Bank and the 26th Annual car display at Shuffield Park at 8 a.m.

At 9 a.m. music begins at City Park with Tom Foolery on the gazebo.

An addition to this year’s carnival, an antique car parade rolls from Shuffield Park to City Park at 10 a.m. The air conditioned trolley also starts rolling at 10 a.m., shuttling visitors between City Park and downtown to make sure everyone gets a taste of the  Main Street restaurants, boutiques and shops. At 11 a.m. the water- melon 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 southwest end of City Park at 1 p.m. and music will resume from the gazebo at 1:30 p.m. with Eric Deaton. Tanner Mills will take center stage at 2:30 p.m., performing until the Dog Costume Contest gets underway at 3:30 p.m. Deep South Band is the final act at the gazebo, starting at 4 p.m. The winners of the Train Tracks Pork Attack Barbecue Contest will be announced at 5:15 p.m. as the final event of the festival.

For a complete lineup of events at the city’s big event, be sure to check out the special section included in this week’s Herald.