Follow the official Franklin County Watermelon Festival Facebook & Instagram!

2024 Franklin County Watermelon Festival
August 16 & 17, 2024

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 2024!
Sapphire, Light Pink, Electric Green, Violet, and Graphite!

Our Watermelon Cap is available for purchase!
These Richardson 112 Trucker Caps are embroidered & have a breathable mesh back!

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 16: 6 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 17: 10 AM – 10 PM


Friday, August 16 (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony (FREE WATERMELON)
                    National Anthem – Tara Greenhill
7:00 PM – Tremayne
8:30 PM – LOVER: An Eras Tour Experience

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 – Rewind of the Shoals
7:00 PM – Austin Bohannon
8:30 PM – Colin Stough


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

 


 

2024 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


Senator Larry Stutts

Representative Jamie Kiel


Legacy Sponsors



Crimson Sweet Sponsors


Community Spirit Bank

Country Cottage Assisted Living

First Metro Bank

Franklin County Commission

Franklin County Times

Happy Hollow Outdoors

Russellville Florist & Gifts

Tennessee Valley Pediatrics

Tri-Green Equipment | Leighton

Valley Credit Union

Vulcan 

Wood-Thompson Insurance


Liberty Sponsors


Clark Pulley

G&G Steel 

Green’s Dependable Hardware

Northwest Shoals Community College 

Strickland & Barksdale, CPAs

Town of Hodges 


Harmony Sponsors


Eye Care Professionals
Franklin Electric
J.T. Ray, Inc.
Northwest Alabama Mountain Ride
Red Bay Civitan
Russellville Water & Sewer Board
Sinclair Lawrence & Associates Insurance