FRANKLIN COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL 2024
August 16 & 17, 2024
Like and follow our
Watermelon Festival
Facebook & Instagram pages for updates!
Download our
Watermelon Festival Brochure!
Check out our
photo gallery!
Festival Hours:
Friday, August 16: 6 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 17: 10 AM – 10 PM
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, August 16, 2024
6:00 PM – Festival Begins
6:45 PM – Opening Ceremony, Main Stage
7:00 PM – Coming soon!
8:30 PM – Coming soon!
Saturday, August 17, 2024
7:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Car Show
7:30 AM – Watermelon 5K Begins (1 Mile Fun Run immediately after)
10:00 AM – Festival Begins
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Character Guests, in front of Valley State Bank
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Watermelon Contests, Russellville First Baptist Church Park
6:00 PM – Coming soon!
7:00 PM – Coming soon!
8:30 PM – Coming soon!
10:00 PM – Festival Ends
Attendance Rules
Watermelon Festival Vendor Information
2024 Vendor Applications will be available in April/May. Please send an email to [email protected] to receive an application once they’re available.
To complete the vendor application, please do the following:
-
Click to open the fillable PDF (this opens the file in your browser; do not open in Google Docs)
-
Complete all form fields
-
SAVE the PDF to your device
-
Email completed PDF to [email protected]
-
Please include photos of your products & booth set up with your application
“Early Bird” Discount Deadline
Vendor Application Deadline
Check-In & Set Up Times:
FOOD VENDORS – 11:00 AM
ALL OTHER VENDORS – 2:00 PM
*Vendors must check-in at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce to receive their booth assignment*
ALL VENDORS MUST BE IN THEIR DESIGNATED SPACE AND READY FOR THE FESTIVAL TO BEGIN AT 5:00 PM FRIDAY AND 9:00 AM SATURDAY.
Vendor Rules & Regulations
Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests
Russellville First Baptist Church Park
201 Washington Ave NW, Russellville, AL 35653
11 AM – Registration
12 PM – Weighing & Judging Starts
1 PM – Winners Announced
Watermelon Contests Categories:
Largest Weighing Watermelon from Franklin County
Largest Weighing Watermelon
Most Unusual Watermelon
Best Tasting Watermelon
Best Dressed Watermelon
Seed Spitting Contest
Watermelon Festival Contest Rules
Watermelon Pageant Information
2024 Franklin County Watermelon Pageant
Applications for the 2024 Watermelon Pageant will be available in April/May!
2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Pageant Queens
Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 18th. 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 7, 2023 and crowning at the 2024 Watermelon Pageant.
2023 Miss Watermelon Festival Queen:
Miss Silvie Kaye Miller
Watermelon Festival T-shirts!
Our T-shirts will be available soon! Stay tuned to see what colors we have for 2024!
Our Watermelon Festival cap is ready to purchase!
Sizes and prices are as follows:
Infant- $15
6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2T, 3T, 4T
Youth – $20
XS, S, M, L, XL
Adult – $20
S, M, L, XL
Adult – $25
2XL, 3XL, 4XL
Adult Long Sleeve – $25
S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Embroidered Richardson 112 Trucker Cap – $25
Watermelon Run 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run
5K and 1 Mile Fun Run!
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Russellville High School Field House
Race Day Registration begins at 6:00 AM
5K begins at 7:30 AM with the 1 Mile Fun Run beginning immediately after.
For more information & online registration: https://watermelonfestival5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=6063
*Presented by the Russellville High School Cross Country Team*
Main Stage Entertainment Line Up
Friday (8/16)
5:45 PM – Opening Ceremony
National Anthem: Tara Greenhill
7:00 PM – Coming soon!
8:30 PM – Coming soon!
Saturday (8/17)
6:00 PM – Coming soon!
7:00 PM – Coming soon!
8:30 PM – Coming soon!
2024 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsors
Contact our office for information about Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship.
[email protected]
256-332-1760
American Champion Sponsors
Royal Jubilee Sponsors
Legacy Sponsors
Crimson Sweet Sponsors
Liberty Sponsors
Harmony Sponsors
Voted Best of the Best 2021, 2022, & 2023!
Franklin County Watermelon Festival
Voted Best Adults and Children’s Events in the Tennessee Valley
The Franklin County Watermelon Festival began in 1981 and is the largest festival in Franklin County.
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 FREE watermelon!
Franklin County Declared the
Watermelon Capital of Alabama
In 2013, Senator Roger Bedford and Representative Johnny Mack Morrow were successful in passing a resolution in the Alabama Legislature declaring Franklin County the “Watermelon Capital of Alabama”.
