Follow the official Franklin County Watermelon Festival Facebook & Instagram!

2022 Franklin County Watermelon Festival
August 19-20, 2022

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

We have shirts! 

Mr. Ant returns with new colors: Red, Neon Blue, Ash, Coral Silk, and Electric Green!

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 (Red ONLY) – $10
– 6 months
– 12 months
– 18 months
– 2T
– 3T
– 4T

Youth – $15
– XS
– S
– M
– L
– XL

Adult – $15
– S
– M
– L
– XL
– 2XL ($18)
– 3XL ($18)
– 4XL ($18)

Long Sleeve (White ONLY) – $20
– S 
– M
– L
– XL
– 2XL

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Festival Hours

Friday, August 19: 5:45 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 20: 10 AM – 10 PM

Friday, August 19 (5:45 PM – 10:00 PM)

5:45 PM – Opening Ceremony (FREE WATERMELON)
                 National Anthem – Cassandra James
6:00 PM – Cody Bowen
7:00 PM – Joseph Baldwin Band
8:30 PM – Velcro Pygmies

Saturday, August 20 (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)
11:00 AM – Judging & Entertainment for Contests
12:00 PM – Winners Announced for Contests
5:30 PM – FREE WATERMELON (beside Main Stage)
6:00 PM – Light Up the Night Car Show
6:00 PM – Tremayne
7:00 PM – REWIND of the Shoals
8:30 PM – Thompson Square

Information & Registration for the Watermelon 5K & Fun Run: https://watermelonfestival5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=6063 

Call Bart Bolton (256-668-3542) or Nicole Stancil (256-412-5724) for information about the Car & Truck Show or the Light Up the Night Car Show.

Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests

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

Saturday, August 20, 2022
10:00 AM – Registration
11:00 AM – Judging & Entertainment
12:00 PM – Winners Announced

Watermelon Contest Categories:

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

Watermelon Festival Contest Rules

Download the 2022 Map here!

Watermelon Festival Rules

2022 SPONSORS

American Champion Sponsors

Royal Jubilee Sponsors

Legacy Sponsors

Crimson Sweet Sponsors

Liberty Sponsors

Harmony Sponsors