A Melon-Tastic Time You Won’t Soon Forget
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This year’s Watermelon Carnival section cover picture features siblings Joe Hodge (age 5) and Jane Hodge (age three) getting ready for the Street Dance. They are the children of Austin and Mary Sybil Hodge and the grandchildren of Tim Hodge and Angie Hodge and Randy and Amy Byars.
Welcome to another Watermelon Carnival, Water Valley’s signature festival. For many carnival goers this weekend is a homecoming – reunions, family get-togethers and reminiscing.
That’s the beauty of the annual carnival, different events for everybody. For some it’s the local talent that will perform Friday and Saturday. For others it is the carnival atmosphere with vendors from across the southeast peddling goods. Kids enjoy the rides and games. Through it all, the annual carnival flourishes while keeping the original theme – watermelons. There will be a bountiful supply of local farmers peddling melons, free melon slices and melon-themed events throughout the weekend.
But that’s enough about the carnival’s namesake – this year’s event should go down as an all-time favorite. The Water Valley Chamber of Commerce, working in conjunction with numerous people, clubs and organizations, has scheduled an impressive array of events to keep the carnival atmosphere exciting, even for folks who have not missed a year since the “new” Watermelon Carnival got underway in 1980.
The carnival includes tried-and-true events that everyone has come to expect as part of the weekend’s tradition. The Mayor’s welcome and introduction of carnival royalty start the program Friday evening in City Park. And as the lights fade later Friday night, a crowd will descend on Central Street as the Street Dance starts. BankFirst is again sponsoring the fireworks, timed as an interlude for the Street Dance at 9 p.m. It’s not just people at the Street Dance or in City Park who gather to enjoy the fireworks show. Cars park in their favorite observation spot and spectators gather on porches with good vintage points to watch as fiery comets shoot upwards, exploding into dazzling blooms of red, blue and gold.
Watermelon Queen Anna Clair Shaw dropped a 108-pound melon donated for the Watermelon Drop last year. The big melon was donated by Hal Vaughn and turned to mush when it hit the pavement. The melon for this year’s drop could be even bigger.
BankFirst continues the 36-year tradition to start Saturday’s events with the Watermelon Run/Walk, and the runners and walkers start at 7:30 a.m. As the group begins to traverse the streets in the Valley, cars start to rumble in as vintage car enthusiasts come from near and far to show off their pride and joy at Shuffield Park in the annual car show.
Saturday’s early risers can also indulge in a pancake breakfast served by the Lions Club in the Casey Jones Railroad Museum from 6 to 10 a.m. After breakfast or the run, or just looking for that first cup of coffee, you can browse the Farmers Market under the Magnolia trees in Railroad Park.
Next on the agenda is the Antique Car Parade that rolls from Shuffield Park to City Park and back with Watermelon Queen Haylee Jones leading the pack.
Meanwhile over at City Park kids look forward to the free watermelon games – seed spitting, melon eating and melon tossing – that starts at 11 a.m. on the lawn of Webb Clinic. The games are conducted by the Junior Auxiliary of Water Valley and prizes will be awarded to winners. The first 40 kids to sign up will receive coupons for free ice cream.
Amidst the tantalizing scents of carnival food, the mouth-watering aroma of barbecue will fill the air as contestants fire up their grills for the Train Tracks Pork Attack Bar-B-Que Contest. This event features MBN competitions for the professional cookers and categories geared for locals who want to participate including desserts, sides, sauce and watermelon-related dishes.
The high noon Largest Watermelon Contest is the climax of the entire weekend, as melon growers put it all on the line for bragging rights. The intensity of the competition dates back to 1980, producing some of the biggest watermelons ever grown in the state. This year marks the debut of the Youth Watermelon Growing Contest, an exciting new event presented in collaboration with the Chamber and Yalobusha County 4-H.
Whether you are a watermelon aficionado or just looking for a run day out, the Water Valley Watermelon Carnival is the place to be. It’s a celebration of summer, community, and, of course, the beloved watermelons. So check the schedule, gather your friends and family, and head to City Park for a melon-tastic time you won’t soon forget.
