FRANKLIN COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL 2026
August 14 & 15, 2026
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Watermelon Festival
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Watermelon Festival Brochure!
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photo gallery!
Festival Hours:
Friday, August 14: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday, August 15: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, August 14, 2026
6:00 PM – Festival Begins
6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony, Main Stage | National Anthem: Joseph Baldwin
7:00 PM – Joseph Baldwin
8:30 PM – Maggie Baugh
10:00 PM – Festival Ends
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Car & Truck 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
5:00 PM – Brody Nix
6:00 PM – Tremayne
7:00 PM – Rewind
8:30 PM – Tracu Byrd
10:00 PM – Festival Ends
Attendance Rules
Watermelon Festival Vendor Information
Vendor Applications will be available starting in late April/early May.
Please visit the Vendor Page below for information.
CLICK HERE FOR VENDOR APPLICATIONS
“Early Bird” Discount Deadline
MAY – TBD
Vendor Application Deadline
JUNE – TBD
*Any applications submitted after June TBD deadline will be subject to a $100 late fee.
Check-In & Set Up Times:
FOOD VENDORS – 10:00 AM
VENDORS W/ ELECTRICITY – 12:00 PM
VENDORS W/O ELECTRICITY – 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
Saturday, August 15th, 2026
10 AM – 11 AM | Registration
11:00 AM | Judging Begins
11:15 AM | Seed Spitting Contest
1:00 PM | Winners Announced
Watermelon Contests Categories:
Largest Weighing Watermelon from Franklin County
Largest Weighing Watermelon (outside Franklin County)
Most Unusual Watermelon
Best Tasting Watermelon
Best Dressed Watermelon
Seed Spitting Contest
Watermelon Festival Contest Rules
Watermelon Pageant Information
2026 Franklin County Watermelon Pageant
Saturday, July TBD, 2026
Applications for the 2026 Watermelon Pageant will be available HERE.
You can find more information about the Watermelon Pageant by visiting our Watermelon Pageant page here.
Follow our 2026 Watermelon Festival Pageant Facebook Event Page for updates!
2025 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Pageant Queens
Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 15th. 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 Franklin County Chamber Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 5, 2025 and crowning at the 2026 Watermelon Pageant.
2025 Miss Watermelon Festival Queen:
Miss Jaci Sha Sutherland
Watermelon Festival T-shirts!
Watermelon Festival T-shirts are available now with new colors!
Watermelon Festival Caps & Tees can be purchased at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce (103 Jackson Ave N, Russellville, AL 35653).
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
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 Watermelon Caps – $25
Watermelon Run 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run
The Watermelon 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run is held on Saturday of the Franklin County Watermelon Festival.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:30 AM – 5K Race Begins
*1 Mile Fun Run is immediately following the conclusion of the 5K.
For more information & registration, visit: https://watermelonfestival5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=6063
**Presented by the Russellville High School Cross Country Team**
Watermelon Festival Car & Truck Show
The Car & Truck Show is held on Saturday of the Franklin County Watermelon Festival.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:00 AM – noon
Watermelon Festival Car & Truck Show:
For information about the Car & Truck show, please call:
256-443-6094
**Presented by the Russellville High School Marching Hundred Band Parent Association**
Entertainment Line Up
Friday (8/14)
6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony
National Anthem: Joseph Baldwin
7:00 PM – Joseph Baldwin
8:30 PM – Maggie Baugh
Saturday (8/15)
5:00 PM – Brody Nix
6:00 PM – Tremayne
7:00 PM – Rewind
8:30 PM – Tracy Byrd
2026 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsors
Please visit our SPONSORS page or contact our office for information about Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship.
info@franklincountychamber.org
256-332-1760
American Champion Sponsor
Royal Jubilee Sponsors
Legacy Sponsors
Crimson Sweet Sponsors
Liberty Sponsors
Harmony Sponsors
Voted Best of the Best 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025!
Franklin County Watermelon Festival
Voted Best Adults and Children’s Event 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”.
