2026 Watermelon Festival Pageant
Saturday, July 18, 2026

Registration is now OPEN for the 2026 Franklin County Watermelon Pageant!
Click the pink button above to register.
Deadline to register is June 18th, at 4:00 PM

Please read through the following rules & requirements before submitting an application.
Please follow our Franklin County Watermelon Festival social media to stay up to date!
Facebook — Instagram

Pageant Rules, Stage Layout, & Call Times

Join our Watermelon Pageant Facebook Event Page!

Check-In will be backstage of the Russellville City Schools Auditorium on Saturday, July 18th, see below for your age divisions. Lineup is 15 minutes prior to stage time; BE DRESSED & READY UPON ARRIVAL!
Dress areas will be limited. We will NOT hold your group and delay the pageant.
Schedule may be altered according to the number of entries.
(Take a screenshot to have for your reference.)

SCHEDULE FROM 2025 | 2026 SCHEDULE MAY BE ALTERED

10:00 AM | Pageant Begins (Welcome & Introduction)
10:10 AM | 0-5 Months
10:20 AM | 6-11 Months
10:30 AM | 12-15 Months
10:40 AM | 16-18 Months
CROWNING
11:00 AM | 19-23 Months
11:15 AM | 2 Years
11:30 AM | 3 Years (Jan-May)
11:45 AM | 3 Years (June-Dec)
CROWNING | INTERMISSION
12:15 PM | 4-5 Years
12:30 PM | 6 Years
12:45 PM | 7 Yeras
1:00 PM | 8-9 Years
CROWNING
1:20 PM | 10-12 Years
1:30 PM | 13-15 Years
1:40 PM | 16-17 Years
1:50 PM | 18-21 Years
CROWNING

2026 Franklin County Watermelon Queens

Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 14th. The Watermelon Festival Queen (Age 18-21) will also be responsible for cutting the first watermelon at the Opening Ceremony, awarding prizes at the Watermelon Festival, riding in the Franklin County Chamber Christmas Parade in Downtown Russellville on Thursday, December 3, 2026 and crowning at the 2027 Watermelon Pageant.

**Girls 9 and under are not permitted to wear glitz pageant wear.**
**Girls 10 and older are permitted to wear pageant wear.**

The Watermelon Pageant is a natural pageant & make up should be age appropriate.

Miss Watermelon Queen (18-21 Years) Requirements:

To be crowned Miss Watermelon Queen (18-21 Years), applicant must be a current Franklin County resident and agrees to provide proof of residency. If applicant is not a primary resident of Franklin County, she will not be eligible for the title of Miss Watermelon Queen. Applicant also confirms that she is not married, does not plan to be married during her reign, is not a mother, and does not plan to bare children during her reign as Miss Watermelon Queen.