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



 

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.

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


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 – Coming Soon!
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)
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 – 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
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

 


 

2023 WATERMELON FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Information for 2023 Franklin County Watermelon Festival Sponsorship can be found here.
info@frankincountychamber.org
256-332-1760 


American Champion Sponsors



Royal Jubilee Sponsors



Legacy Sponsors



Crimson Sweet Sponsors


Valley Credit Union

Community Spirit Bank

TriGreen Equipment

Franklin County Times

Econo Lodge

Country Cottage

Oliver Creamery


Liberty Sponsors


 

 

 


Harmony Sponsors


J.T. Ray Company
Babes & Tots Group Home Daycare
Franklin Electric Cooperative