Since 1980, theyve invited the rest of the world to dispute or embrace the claim. The Hempstead Watermelon festival is a wholesome summer festival fit for the entire family. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as locally grown smoked chicken and golden fried catfish. McDade. . Sunday, March 12, 2023, Franklin County Partnership Awards Banquet 2023 Hempstead Watermelon Festival. Interested in being a sponsor for the 2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival?Contact us today to learn which sponsorship is right for you!info@franklincountychamber.org256-332-1760. 29 . Its ancestors had a white flesh and were not very sweet, according to Live Science. Free. My dad definitely shed some tears when my name was announced, said Johnson. 547 were here. The Watermelon Festival Queen (Age 18-21) will also be responsible for cutting the first watermelon at the Opening Ceremony, awarding prizes at the Watermelon Festival, riding in the Russellville Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 1, 2022 and crowning at the 2023 Watermelon Pageant. Along with various watermelon-related activities, there's barbecue cook offs, street dancing, quilt and car shows, live entertainment, and more. 2023 Vendor Applications are in the works! Public response was positive and spontaneous. McDade Watermelon Festival is74years old but due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 the festival experienced it's first ever cancelation in history! We welcome you back for 2022 and look forward to sharing another great year! All Rights Reserved. As National Watermelon Queen you get to meet with so many different companies, whether those are packers, or farms, feed companies and so you get a lot of job opportunities as National Watermelon Queen, said Johnson. The past national queen, she did over 100 promotions and got to travel all the states that grow watermelons, she also got to go to California, said Johnson. First celebrated in 1937, the Stockdale Watermelon Jubilee is one of the oldest watermelon festivals in Texas. Beer, Soda, Food & lighted toy vendors on site. A family-friendly event, the Hempstead Watermelon Festival invites folks from all over Texas (and beyond) to take part in sharing their food, products, crafts or services with our great small town. Hempstead Commerce & Civic Association P.O. As the National Watermelon Queen Im the promotional ambassador for the National Watermelon Association, said Johnson. 42 were here. One grower, Herschel Runsick, planted his crop in the Strawberry River bottoms and he grew just enough watermelons to make the first festival a success. The 42nd annual Cave City Watermelon Festival is slated to begin Thursday (July 28) and run through Saturday (July 30). Money was needed to furnish with metal chars. Saturday night's four new queens (starting second from left) Sage Bell, Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Outstanding Teen; Miss Belle of the D'Arbonne Outstanding Teen Sachiri Henderson; Anna Claire Lemoine, Miss Belle of the D'Arbonne; Jourdan Waddell, Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival 2022, pose for a photo with pageant directors Darra Jung (far left . . Watermelons have been consumed by humans for at least 5,000 years. FOX 7 Austins Meredith Aldis asked. "Lots of my friends in high school, and when I was younger, liked to refer to me as the 'Watermelon Queen' and now I'm the National Watermelon . March 1, 2023 - Shelby Countys own Olivia Johnson has received a national title as she was crowned the National Watermelon Queen at the 108th Annual National Watermelon Convention in Asheville, North Carolina on Saturday, February 25, 2023. 2022 Watermelon Festival Queens. Watermelon . Shelby County Today News Online Please Click for more info & application. 2022 Hempstead Watermelon Festival. McDade Watermelon Festival 143 Bastrop St McDade TX 78650 Phone: +1.512.736.4302 E-mail: info@mcdadetexas.com Some history that was written in 1998 for our 50th Anniversary on the Watermelon Festival in McDade. This Years 19th Annual Festival will be held Sept. 14-16, 2023 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in beautiful Berryville Va. Free camping with ticket, kids 12 and under free. FOX 7 Austin The pageant is very much in a job interview format, you do a speech competition, an interview with a panel of judges, a video interview, an impromptu question, a promotional wear competition and then an evening gown competition, said Johnson. "FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY".This is still our motivation & drive, However due to the health and safety of all we had to make a very tough and sad decision in 2020 to announce our first ever cancelationdue to COVID-19 pandemic. The De Leon Peach and Melon Festival is one of the oldest Festivals in Texas! Singers Wade Hays and Mark Wills will round out the live music slate on Saturday night. They did create a tradition of community spirit with the first festival that is still shared by their heirs, relatives, friends and the people of McDade community today. city . What will ending the COVID-19 emergency look like in the US? 979.921.5095 2023 Hempstead Watermelon Festival. With a crowd estimated at 1,000 the first Annual McDade Festival. Watermelon Festival Celebrating the huge watermelon industry in Knox County with some summertime fun - the 2022 Watermelon Festival will be on Friday, August 5 & Saturday, August 6 in Vincennes, IN. The 42nd annual Cave City Watermelon Festival is slated to begin Thursday (July 28) and run through Saturday (July 30). By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Weknow you'll have a good time &enjoy small town fun with your family and friends. After June 15, and no later than July 8, booth prices increase by $50. A.W. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hundreds gathered for one of the longest running festivals in Texas. It was held at the temporary school, the McCarty house. Dallas Farmers Market Watermelon Festival 2022 Aug 2022 Dates Unconfirmed | Dallas, TX | Food Festival information may not be up to date due to COVID-19, but you can view our list of cancellations here. Saturday, March 11, 2023, Daylight Savings Time Begins $50 per person, Rockin' at the Roxy with the KGB Texas . For nearly half a century, Cave City residents in Sharp County have claimed that the sweetest watermelons are grown in and around their hometown. We do it for the BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY! E-Mail: sctoday@att.net Info? Some history thatwas written in 1998for our 50th Anniversary on the Watermelon Festival in McDade. "Yes, it's a little hot, but Texans and McDade folks are tough," 423rd District Court Judge Chris Duggan said. Website maintained by Vicki LeBlanc Media. To the left are 2018-2020 school years Teachers who received grants. Box 16 | Hempstead, Texas 77445 | 979.921.5095 | howdy@growhempstead.com 2023 Hempstead Watermelon . Always the third weekend in June, the Jubilee is a refreshing slice of summer time fun. 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They did establish a tradition that has out lived watermelons as a prize cash crop. From venues, restaurants, and bars to events, festivals, and music weve got you covered. The festival includes a grand parade featuring tractors, horses, classic cars, and some FOX 7 Austin favorites. Website maintained by Vicki LeBlanc Media. All Rights Reserved. Box 16| Hempstead, Texas 77445 | 979.921.5095 | [emailprotected] Not only was there competition, but Johnson shares that a sisterhood was developed amongst those who participated in this challenge. Queen Olivia Johnson is the 21-year-old daughter of Mr. Shelby and Renee Johnson, and in her lifetime she has been rooted in the watermelon industry through the sixth generation farm family of which she is a part. . Texas Farmers Market is hosting a watermelon festival at its Lakeline (Aug. 7) and Mueller (Aug. 8) locations. LULING WATERMELON THUMP JUNE 22-25, 2023 Always the LAST FULL weekend of June SINCE 1954 Wander back here for updates on the BBQ cookoff, live entertainment, watermelon contests and more. The McDade Watermelon Festival Association, Inc. charter was filed with the State of Texas, July 3, 1950. It was widely grown throughout the country and especially in the South. You'll find live music, food & beverages. How the McDade Watermelon Festival beganThe McDade Watermelon Festival is one of the most successful & longest running festivals in the State of Texas.World War II was over and the soldiers came home to the little town McDade. June . All set about cleaning up McDade like never before and readying themselves to show off their town and the area's principal crop, watermelon.Thursday, July 1, 1948, marks the day of the 1st McDade Watermelon Festival. 2023 Hempstead Watermelon Festival. 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