WATERMELON PAGEANT APPLICATION

General Information & Rules:

***Girls 10 years & over will be permitted to wear pageant wear.***
***Girls 9 years and under will not be permitted to wear pageant wear.***

• The Watermelon Pageant is a natural pageant & makeup should be age appropriate. Glitz Pageant Wear is not permitted for ages 9 & under.

• Entry Fee – $50.00 and includes: Beauty Pageant, Photogenic, Prettiest Dress, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Smile, & Pageant Tee. To be judged in the Photogenic Category, ONE PHOTO is to be uploaded with your application. 

• Application, fee, and photo deadline is Thursday, June 19th at 4:00 PM. There will be NO exceptions to the deadline.

• Category Divisions may be combined or divided according to the number of entries. This ensures that categories have a fair number of participants. These Category Divisions are based on the 2024 pageant but are likely to change: 
0-5 Months, 6-11 Months, 12-16 Months, 17-23 Months, 2 Years, 3-4 Years, 5 Years, 6-7 Years, 8-9 Years, 10-11 Years, 12-13 Years, 14-17 Years, 18-21 Years (Watermelon Queen Category)
*Categories may be combined or divided according to the number of entries. 

• Only ONE female per contestant is allowed in the back holding areas. Only ONE female is allowed to escort on stage or stay in the wings of those in the 5 Year category and under. If you would like to watch the pageant, you will need to purchase a ticket in the lobby for entry. Please be aware that NO MEN or YOUNG BOYS are allowed backstage, nor in holding rooms, nor as escorts for contestants. This includes fathers, brothers, boyfriends, and hair & makeup artists.

• Each contestant will receive a 2025 Pageant Tee and a participation certificate. Each age division will have a Queen, 1st Alternate, 2nd Alternate, Most Photogenic, Prettiest Dress, Prettiest Smile, and Prettiest Hair. The Queen in each age division will receive a crown.

• Judging will be by out-of-town judges. The judges decisions are FINAL. 

• Each contestant should wear an age-appropriate dress. Pageant wear will be permitted for girls 10 Years and over. Girls 9 Years and under will NOT be permitted to wear pageant wear. 

• Check-In will be backstage of the Russellville City Schools Auditorium on Saturday, July 19th, see below for your age divisions. Lineup is 30 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.

*PAGEANT SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES
*PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND PAGEANT EVENT PAGE FOR UPDATES
STAGE TIMES:

10:10 AM | 0-5 Months
10:30 AM | 6-11 Months
10:50 AM | 12-16 Months
***CROWNING***
11:00 AM | 17-23 Months
11:15 AM | 2 Years (Jan-May)
11:30 AM | 2 Years (June-Dec)
11:45 AM | 3-4 Years
***CROWNING***
12:10 PM | 5 Years
12:20 PM | 6-7 Years
12:30 PM | 8-9 Years
***CROWNING***
12:40 PM | 10-11 Years
12:50 PM | 12-13 Years
1:00 PM | 14-17  Years
1:10 PM | 18-21 Years
***CROWNING***

• Complete & submit the application by Thursday, June 19th, at 4:00 PM.

• Payment for pageant fee is due no later than Thursday, June 19th, at 4:00 PM.
If payment is not received by the deadline then the contestant will NOT be able to participate in this pageant.
Cash, check, or card are all acceptable payment methods.
The Chamber will not be responsible for notifying applicants of non-payment. 

THERE WILL NOT BE A SCHEDULED REHERSAL FOR THIS EVENT! SEE OUTLINE BELOW:

For more information, please contact the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at 256-332-1760 or [email protected]

*Queens will be presented at the Franklin County Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony on August 15th, located at the Main Stage.
The Watermelon Festival Queen (18-21 Years) will also be responsible for cutting the first watermelon at the Opening Ceremony, awarding prizes at the Watermelon Festival, riding in the Russellville Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 4, 2025, and crowning at the 2026 Watermelon Pageant*

Please read and agree below (parents/guardians must sign for anyone under 18 years old).

I understand that all decisions by the judges are final. I will not hold the Director, Staff, City of Russellville, Russellville City Schools, The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, or anyone associated with the Watermelon Festival responsible for any injury, lost items, or damages occurring before, during, or after the pageant.
I hereby grant the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and/or the Franklin County Watermelon Festival permission to use my likeness in a photograph, video, or other digital media in any and all of its publications, including web-based publications without payment or other considerations.
I understand that NO changes will be made to the application once submitted!

QUEEN CATEGORY NOTICE:

If I am selected as The Watermelon Queen (18-21 Year Old Category), signing below will confirm that I am attending or have graduated from a Franklin County High School, Russellville City School, or Northwest-Shoals Community College. If I have not attended or graduated from the required schools, I will not be eligible for the title of The Watermelon Queen. If selected, I must attend the following year’s pageant to crown the new Queen along with riding in the Russellville Christmas Parade and attend the Watermelon Festival duties assigned by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.