Follow the official Franklin County Watermelon Festival Facebook & Instagram!

2025 Franklin County Watermelon Festival
August 15th & 16th, 2025

Welcome to the Watermelon Capital of Alabama! 

The Watermelon Festival started in 1981 and has grown into the largest festival in Franklin County! 

This two day festival is FREE to attend! We have food and craft vendors, live music, watermelon contests, 5K and Fun Run, car shows, and FREE watermelon!

Attendance Rules


VENDOR INFORMATION  |  PAGEANT INFORMATION



 

WATERMELON T-SHIRTS

Mr. Ant & his famous Watermelon T-shirts will return with NEW colors in 2025!
Colors coming soon!

Our Watermelon Cap is available for purchase!
These Richardson 112 Trucker Caps are embroidered & have a breathable mesh back! We also have two ladies caps available: a white trucker cap with a mesh back and a white flexible sporty cap!

Official Watermelon Festival shirts can only be purchased at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce (103 Jackson Ave N, Russellville, AL 35653)

Sizes & Pricing 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
– 2XL ($25)
– 3XL ($25)
– 4XL ($25)

Long Sleeve – $25
– S 
– M
– L
– XL
– 2XL

Watermelon Caps – $25


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Festival Hours

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


Friday, August 15 (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony (FREE WATERMELON)
                    National Anthem – Coming soon! 
7:00 PM –
Coming soon! 
8:30 PM – Coming soon!

Saturday, August 17 (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM)

7:00 AM – Car & Truck Show
7:30 AM – Watermelon 5k and Fun Run
10:00 AM – Character Guests (until noon)
10:00 AM – Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests (FREE WATERMELON)
10:00 AM – Watermelon Contests Registration
11:00 AM – Watermelon Contests Judging
12:00 PM – Watermelon Contests Winners Announced
5:30 PM – FREE WATERMELON (beside Main Stage)
6:00 PM – Coming soon!
7:00 PM – Coming soon!
8:30 PM – Coming soon!


Information & Registration for the Watermelon 5K & Fun Run:
https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Russellville/WatermelonFestival5KAL 

Watermelon Festival Car & Truck Show:
Call Brandi McKellar (256-443-5919) for information about the Car & Truck Show.


Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests

Russellville First Baptist Church Park
201 Washington Ave N, Russellville, AL 35653

Saturday, August 20, 2022
11:00 AM – Registration
12:00 PM – Judging
1:00 PM – Winners Announced

Watermelon Contest Categories:

Largest Watermelon (from Franklin County)
Largest Watermelon (outside of Franklin County)
Best Tasting Watermelon
Best Dressed Watermelon
Most Unusual Watermelon
Watermelon Seed Spitting

Watermelon Festival Contest Rules

 


 

2025 WATERMELON FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Contact our office for information regarding Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship.
[email protected]
256-332-1760 


American Champion Sponsors



Royal Jubilee Sponsors



Legacy Sponsors



Crimson Sweet Sponsors


Coming soon!

Coming soon!


Liberty Sponsors


Coming soon!

Coming soon!

 

Coming soon!

 


Harmony Sponsors


Coming soon!
Coming soon!