FRANKLIN COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL 2023
August 18-19, 2023
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 18: 5:45 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 19: 10 AM – 10 PM
Attendance Rules
Watermelon Festival Vendor Information
2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Vendor Application
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 director@franklincountychamber.org
“Early Bird” Discount Deadline is Friday, June 9, 2023.
Vendor Application Deadline is Monday, July 10, 2023.
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
10 AM – Registration
11 AM – Weighing & Judging Starts
12 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
2023 Franklin County Watermelon Pageant
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Apply now!
Deadline for applications is Friday, June 16, by 4:00 PM.
2022 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Pageant Queens
Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 19th. 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.
2022 Miss Watermelon Festival Queen:
Miss Sophie Hill
Watermelon Run 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run
5K and 1 Mile Fun Run!
Saturday, August 21, 2021
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 (8/18)
5:45 PM – Opening Ceremony
National Anthem: Coming Soon!
7:00 PM – Tremayne
8:30 PM – Velcro Pygmies
Saturday (8/19) 
6:00 PM – REWIND
7:00 PM – Austin Bohannon
8:30 PM – Colt Ford
2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsors
Information about 2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship can be found here.
info@franklincountychamber.org
256-332-1760
American Champion Sponsors
Royal Jubilee Sponsors
Legacy Sponsors
Crimson Sweet Sponsors
Valley Credit Union
Community Spirit Bank
TriGreen Equipment
Franklin County Times
Econo Lodge
Country Cottage
Oliver Creamery
Liberty Sponsors
Harmony Sponsors
J.T. Ray Company
Babes & Tots Group Home Daycare
Franklin Electric Cooperative
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 was successful in passing a resolution in the Alabama Legislature declaring Franklin County “Watermelon Capital of Alabama”.
