Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Kick-off Dinner
5 p.m. Friday, June 10
Get your tickets now for the 2022 Watermelon Festival Kick-off Dinner. It's happening on Friday, June 10 at 5 p.m. at the Monticello Opera House (MOH - 185 W. Washington St.). The evening begins with an awards ceremony for winners of the pageants, baby photo contest and program cover art contest. A delicious barbecue dinner, provided by North Florida Abstract & Title (NFAT), will be served at 5:30 p.m. Desserts are being provided by Big Bend Hospice. Joining NFAT staff as servers will be Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Board Members. Tickets of $10 for adults and $5 for those under age 12 can be obtained by scanning the code in the photo with this article, visiting www.monticellowatermelonfestival.com or calling the Chamber at (850) 997-5552.
Bed Races
6:30 p.m. Friday, June 10
After the Kick-off Dinner, step just outside MOH to the corner of West Washington and Mulberry streets for the Bed Races. Contestants will strap a rider to a padded bed with wheels and put their foot power in gear. Each team’s bed rider will be required to get out of the bed at a turnaround point (while pushers are turning the bed around) and roll a watermelon to a designated point, get back in the bed and race to the finish. The Adult Race will feature participants who are at least 18 years old. The Teen Race features participants between 13 and 17 years old. Beds will be decorated in hopes of receiving the “Best Dressed Bed” award. The race winners in each category will receive custody of the Bragging Rights Trophy plus a cash prize of $25. Bed Race sponsors include Alpha Foundations, Gulf Coast Lumber & Supply and FitCo Health Club.
Watermelon Crawl
5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 10
Downtown businesses will be open late for Monticello's own Watermelon Festival shopping and dining extravaganza. Visit any six of the twenty-one participating locations clustered on North Jefferson, East Dogwood and Washington streets, turn in your stamped Watermelon Crawl card, and you'll qualify for a drawing to win $500! During your Watermelon Crawl, you can visit Oh Happy Day Gifts, The Luckie Pearl, 2 Sisters...New Beginnings, Flossie Mae's Boutique, Décor de France, Dogwood Market, Soulshine Vintage, Penny Lane Boutique, The Arctic Scoop, The Porch on the Green, Jackie's Brickhouse Eatery, CowHaus Coffee Co., Gelling's Florist & Design, Mafia Pizza, Three Cord Wholesale, CrazyHorse Clothing, Rust & Rose, BeYOUiful Skin Spa, Vintage Treasures, 2 Old Men and Danielle Figueroa Art.
Pickleball Tournament
8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, June 11
Head on out to the courts at the Jefferson Recreation Park (1380 Mamie Scott Dr.) for a new event this year – the Pickleball Tournament! Games will begin at 8 a.m. for ages 50 or older and at 6 p.m. for ages 49 and younger. The entry fee of $35 per person includes healthy snacks and water. To register, go to MonticelloWatermelonFestival.com. Direct any questions to the Chamber at (850) 997-5552.
Looking ahead to next week, tickets are selling fast for the Women's Club Luncheon & Fashion Show. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 16. For your $15 ticket, visit monticellowatermelonfestival.com.