Follow the official Franklin County Watermelon Festival Facebook & Instagram!

2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival
August 18-19, 2023

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


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, August 18, 2023
6:00 – Festival Begins
6:45 PM – Opening Ceremony, Main Stage
7:00 PM – Tremayne
8:30 PM – The Velcro Pygmies
10:00 PM – Festival Ends

Saturday, August 19, 2023
7:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Car 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 – Rewind of the Shoals
7:00 PM – Austin Bohannon
8:30 PM – Colt Ford
10:00 PM – Festival Ends



 

WATERMELON T-SHIRTS

Mr. Ant & his famous Watermelon T-shirts have returned with NEW colors in 2023!
2023 Watermelon Festival T-shirts come in the following colors:
Navy, Tropical Blue, Safety Pink, Kiwi, & Sports Grey.

We have also added a Watermelon Cap to our collection!
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 – $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 – $20
– S 
– M
– L
– XL
– 2XL

Watermelon Caps – $25


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Festival Hours

Friday, August 18: 5:45 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, August 19: 10 AM – 10 PM


Friday, August 18 (5:45 PM – 10:00 PM)

5:45 PM – Opening Ceremony (FREE WATERMELON)
                 National Anthem – Tara Greenhill
7:00 PM – Tremayne
8:30 PM – Velcro Pygmies

Saturday, August 19 (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)
11:00 AM – Watermelon in the Park – Cutting & Contests (FREE WATERMELON)
11:00 AM – Watermelon Contests Registration
12:00 PM – Watermelon Contests Judging
1:00 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 – Colt Ford


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
11:00 AM – Registration
12:00 PM – Judging
1:00 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

 


 

2023 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


Franklin County Arts & Humanities Council

Crimson Sweet Sponsors


Bank Independent

Community Spirit Bank

Country Cottage

Econo Lodge

EXIT River City Realty

First Metro Bank

Franklin County Development Authority

Franklin County Commission

Franklin County Times

Listerhill Credit Union

Morgan Chiropractic

Oliver Creamery

Rhett Bradford – State Farm

Russellville Florist & Gifts

Tennessee Valley Pediatrics

TriGreen Equipment Leighton

Twisted Performance & Machine

Valley Credit Union

Vulcan Materials Company 


Liberty Sponsors


Big Star
G&G Steel

Green’s Dependable Hardware
Northwest-Shoals Community College

Strickland & Barksdale
Town of Hodges


Harmony Sponsors


Babes & Tots Group Home Daycare
City of Red Bay
Eye Care Professionals
Franklin Electric Cooperative
Hester & James
J.T. Ray Company
Pinkard Funeral Homes
Red Bay Pharmacy
Redmont Pharmacy
Russellville Civitan
Russellville Water & Sewer Board
Sinclair Lawrence & Associates