2026 Franklin County Watermelon Festival
August 14th & 15th, 2026
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
MISS WATERMELON QUEEN
Jaci Sha Sutherland
WATERMELON T-SHIRTS
Mr. Ant & his famous Watermelon T-shirts returns with NEW colors in 2026!
| Colors: Heather Red, Ash Gray, Light Blue, Military Green, Light Pink
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)
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Sizes & Pricing are as follows:
$25 Watermelon Festival Caps
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
– 5XL
LONG SLEEVE
Adult – $25
– S
– M
– L
– XL
– 2XL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Festival Hours
Friday, August 14: 6 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 15: 10 AM – 10 PM
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, August 14, 2026 (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
6:30 PM | Opening Ceremony (FREE WATERMELON)
National Anthem – Joseph Baldwin
7:00 PM | Joseph Baldwin
8:30 PM | Maggie Baugh
10:00 PM | Festival Ends
Saturday, August 15, 2026 (10:00 AM – 10:00 PM)
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Car & Truck Show
7:30 AM | Watermelon 5k and Fun Run
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Character Guests
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests (FREE WATERMELON)
10:00 AM | Watermelon Contests Registration
11:00 AM | Watermelon Contests Judging Begins
11:15 AM | Seed Spitting Competition
1:00 PM | Watermelon Contests Winners Announced
5:30 PM | Brody Nix
6:00 PM | FREE WATERMELON (beside Stage)
6:00 PM | Tremayne
7:00 PM | Rewind
8:30 PM | Tracy Byrd
10:00 PM | Festival Ends
WATERMELON 5K & CAR SHOW
Watermelon 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run:
Saturday, August 15th | 7:00 AM (Fun run immediately following 5K)
Information & Registration for the Watermelon 5K & Fun Run:
https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Russellville/FranklinCountyWatermelonFestival5kAnd1MileFunRun
Watermelon Festival Car & Truck Show:
Saturday, August 15th | 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Contact 256-443-6094 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 15, 2026
10 AM – 11 AM | Registration
11:00 AM | Judging Begins
11:15 AM | Seed Spitting Contest
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 (Adult 18+ & Youth under 18)
Watermelon Festival Contest Rules
2026 WATERMELON FESTIVAL SPONSORS
Please visit our SPONSORS page, or contact our office for information regarding Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship.
info@frankincountychamber.org
256-332-1760
American Champion Sponsor
Royal Jubilee Sponsors
Legacy Sponsors
