FRANKLIN COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL 2025

August 15 & 16, 2025

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Watermelon Festival Brochure!

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photo gallery! 

Festival Hours:

Friday, August 15: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Saturday, August 16: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, August 15, 2025
6:00 PM – Festival Begins
6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony, Main Stage | National Anthem: Kim Clonts
7:00 PM – Music City Misfits
8:30 PM – Austin Bohannon
10:00 PM – Festival Ends

Saturday, August 16, 2025
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
6:00 PM – The Midnighters
7:00 PM – Dixie Mafia
8:30 PM – Will Moseley
10:00 PM – Festival Ends

Attendance Rules

Watermelon Festival Vendor Information

2025 Vendor Applications are now CLOSED.
Please visit the Vendor Page below for information.

CLICK HERE FOR VENDOR APPLICATIONS

“Early Bird” Discount Deadline
Friday, May 9th, 2025
Vendor Application Deadline
Friday, June 13th, 2025
*Any applications submitted after June 13th 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 16th, 2025
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

2025 Franklin County Watermelon Pageant
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Applications for the 2025 Watermelon Pageant are now available HERE.
You can find more information about the Watermelon Pageant by visiting our Watermelon Pageant page here.

Follow our 2025 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 16, 2025

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 16, 2025

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 (8/15)

6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony
National Anthem: Kim Clonts

7:00 PM – Music City Misfits

8:30 PM – Austin Bohannon

Saturday (8/16) 

6:00 PM – The Midnighters

7:00 PM – Dixie Mafia

8:30 PM – Will Moseley

2025 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”.

From Left to Right: Representative Johnny Mack Morrow, Senator Roger Bedford, Bobby Bolton originator of the annual Watermelon Festival, Cassie Medley, Franklin County Executive Director, Russellville Mayor David Grissom, Kreg Kennedy, District Field Representative for U. S. Senator Robert Aderholt, Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce President (2013) Mike Shewbart.