The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts & crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Texas . Since 1980, they've invited the rest of the world to dispute or embrace the claim. She explained that as watermelon queen she will participate in promotions and events anywhere watermelon is featured which can include media, schools, festivals, parades, tours and other state conventions. Other watermelon varieties were developed through the years and it became a popular fruit in Africa and parts of Asia. Beer, Soda, Food & lighted toy vendors on site. 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. Hempstead Commerce Public response was positive and spontaneous. McDade Watermelon Festival All Rights Reserved. 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. May 21, 2022: This spectacular family event offers two days of non-stop music, contests and entertainment, as well as, a pageant, arts & crafts, 5k run, antique car & truck show, tasty festival foods, tractor show, and a slice of, https://watermelonfestival5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=6063. Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event. Home Demonstration Agent Lena Sturges was formed to gather the information required and entered the contest. Anything that involves watermelon, she will get to attend as National Queen. Years later, the festival continues to bring the young and old to the town of about 700 people. Watermelons have been consumed by humans for at least 5,000 years. 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. 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. 00 Day 00 Hour 00 Minute Johnson described the conventions as a gathering of all the association members, which also will include their own pageants to crown their new state queens. Festival . 2022 . Every year, the Friday evening before the Watermelon Festival, McDade closes off the Main Street {Old Hwy 20 between Waco St & Bastrop St. in the Historical District} to hold a community dance that brings everyone together. 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. Friday, March 10, 2023 They did establish a community tradition that has withstood the changing demographics of McDade. Given that I have worked at my familys local produce stand, Johnson Produce in Center Texas, since I was five years old and that I was the East Texas Watermelon Queen in 2018, and then Texas Watermelon Queen in 2022, this is just a great opportunity to promote an industry that means so much to my family and I, said Johnson. . Interested in being a sponsor for the 2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival? E-mail: info@mcdadetexas.com. McDade. $50 per person, Rockin' at the Roxy with the KGB The contest was to be of one that would benefit & interest to the whole community. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. PTA President, Walter Kastner, Vice president Adeilne Eschberger & Secretary Ethel Field along with the Home Demonstration Club, noticed a contest in the Farmer-Stockman magazine, in cooperation with Texas A&M University, called "Neighborhood Progress Contest" offering a $1,000 prize to the winning organization or group. 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. The modern version of this fruit is often fed to livestock. Since 1980, theyve invited the rest of the world to dispute or embrace the claim. Enjoy booths with fair food favorites, live music, and arts & craft vendors. We cant wait to have you join us! Box 16| Hempstead, Texas 77445 | 979.921.5095 | [emailprotected] One event she mentioned being on her schedule is Nascar, because the watermelon industry has a spokesperson who represents watermelon at the Nascar level. 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. Not only was there competition, but Johnson shares that a sisterhood was developed amongst those who participated in this challenge. The first McDade Watermelon Festival was held in 1948 to raise money for the McDade school that burned down. The farmers' market organization will share recipes for using watermelons leading up to the event, and visitors get a free slice of Texas-grown watermelon the day of the event. "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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She was accompanied by her father Shelby Johnson, mother Renee Johnson and her sister Jenny Johnson. "There's just some of the best watermelon in the world, I usually eat two or three maybe more slices," Duggan said. Saturday, March 11, 2023, Daylight Savings Time Begins We look forward to seeing everyonethis year atthe 73rdMcDade Watermelon Festival 2022on July 9th. Queen Olivia, and her family, are well known in Shelby County for their participation in the East Texas What-A-Melon Festival Biggest Watermelon competition where she has won eight times. Website maintained by Vicki LeBlanc Media. Some history thatwas written in 1998for our 50th Anniversary on the Watermelon Festival in McDade. Along with various watermelon-related activities, there's barbecue cook offs, street dancing, quilt and car shows, live entertainment, and more. Family Fun - McDade Watermelon Festival 73rd McDade Watermelon Festival July 9, 2022 Nothing Comes Between Me & My Watermelon! This year's Hempstead Watermelon Festival is gonna be one for the books! Money was needed to furnish with metal chars. McDade Watermelon Festival . After June 15, and no later than July 8, booth prices increase by $50. Family Fun McDade Watermelon Festival "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 . A host of other events will be held Saturday including the Melon Dash 5-K, the Cave City Cruisers Car Show, Watermelon Parade, Watermelon Growers Games, and many other activities are slated. ****Pre Sale Tractor Pull Tickets Buy Now****** BUY TRACTOR PULL TICKETS So,when you come to our Watermelon Festival, wewant to say THANK YOU! Genetic tests show that watermelons originated in Sudan in Africa. It was held at the temporary school, the McCarty house. Street Dance July 8th. "It's important, it kind of puts our name on the map, it gets people out," McDade Watermelon Festival 5K chairperson Amanda Miller said. All activities except the parade are held at the beautiful Stockdale city park. "This is a perfect, if you will, example of wonderful small town Texas," Duggan said. It was held at the temporary school, the McCarty house. Triple Nickel, with U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, is slated to open for the Bellamy Brothers, one of the most successful music acts from the 1970s and 1980s with hits such as Let Your Love Flow on Friday night. To accompany Queen Olivia on her journey, follow the National Watermelon Queen on Facebook and Instagram. The De Leon Peach and Melon Festival is one of the oldest Festivals in Texas! Prices increase Texas Farmers Market is hosting a watermelon festival at its Lakeline (Aug. 7) and Mueller (Aug. 8) locations. Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 19th. This watermelon festival does just the trick to keep the heat at bay for the average melon-head. Thursday, March 23, 2023 2022 Watermelon Festival Queens. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Global carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high in 2022, Florida man dies after contracting brain-eating infection from rinsing sinuses with tap water, Power outages possible Thursday due to high wind, damaged trees, Austin Energy says, Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued, severe weather risk increases this afternoon, FBI: Explosive found in bag at Pennsylvania airport, man arrested, Hamptons trailer park home under contract for $3.75M, Dallas mayor calls on APD officers to work for Dallas Police Department instead, Criminal gang receives 3K Texas IDs from DPS in cyber fraud case, director says, I didnt realize: Woman mistakenly eats heart-shaped chip that could have won her 100K, Watch: Fishermen spot sharks in huge feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, Central Texas weather: Hail reported as severe storms move through Central Texas, Central Texas weather: Some storms early Thursday morning, severe weather threat increases this afternoon, Austin 'street takeover': Police release photos of suspects, vehicles involved in reckless driving incidents, 4-day school week: Rockdale ISD adopts new calendar starting fall 2023, East Austin theater hosts special show asking for help amid Amplify Austin Day, Another US agency assesses COVID-19 origin likely a Chinese 'lab leak': report, FDA approves combination flu-COVID test for home use, Governor Abbott gives 2023 State of the State Address, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson tests positive for COVID-19. A Watermelon Festival representative will be sure to get right back to you. MCDADE, Texas - The heat didnt keep people from heading out to the 73rd Annual McDade Watermelon Festival. LULING WATERMELON THUMP JUNE 22-25, 2023 Always the LAST FULL weekend of June SINCE 1954 July 15 - 16 Downtown Hempstead We applaud our teachers and give them a big "thank you" for all they do including volunteering their time at the McDade Watermelon Festival. & Civic Association What else can you do at the festival? The festival kicks off with the Watermelon Festival Parade and spans throughout the day, offering a BBQ cook-off, art vendors and an auction. City of Alamo's Watermelon Festival & Cook-off is a great event for hot days, free cold watermelon. 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. Of Asia the Watermelon Festival July 9, 2022 Nothing Comes Between Me amp. 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