UPDATE – 9 a.m., June 16, 2023
The Watermelon Festival Committee has announced yesterday evening the cancellation of the 2023 Watermelon Festival. A statement from Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katrina Richardson says, “In the interest of public safety and other logistics, we are having to cancel the festival this year. So, at the very last minute please accept our apology for this inconvenience and understand it is with heavy hearts we are canceling the festival.”
Richardson confirmed this morning, however, that two of the events will still take place: the Kiwanis 5K Melon Run and the Kids Show “Hot Dogs, Cool Cats” at the Monticello Opera House. For details on these events, see the original article below.
Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Jefferson County's celebration of “Homegrown Happiness” peaks with this weekend's Watermelon Festival events. Monticello has been fine-tuning this festival for 72 years, and the line-up of activities brings the best of these traditions to the present with fun as fresh as watermelon itself.
Tonight, Friday, June 16, be sure to stroll downtown along Dogwood, Cherry, Pearl and High streets to enjoy the Vendor Village (4-9 p.m.), Family Entertainment (6 p.m. til), Street Dance featuring the music of Baby Gray (7-9 p.m.) and Beer Garden (7-9 p.m.).
On Saturday, June 17, the festival offers the Kiwanis 5K Run/Walk (8:15 a.m.), Vendor Village (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), Watermelon Parade (10 a.m.), Antique Car Show (11 a.m.), Platform Events (11 a.m.-3 p.m.), Family Entertainment (11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.), Kids Show “Hot Dogs, Cool Cats” (11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.), Beer Garden (12-4 p.m.), Cool & Splash Station (1-3 p.m. at the library) and Watermelon Games (1:30 p.m.).
The Vendor Village features 120 booths! Of these, 17 are food vendors offering everything from wings to barbecue, Mexican to Italian foods, southern fare, fair food, sweets and all sorts of fried items. To cool your palate, take your pick from seven booths with frozen treats and fresh lemonade. The 96 remaining booths have fascinating items for sale, such as bird feeders, handcrafted jewelry, wooden toys, old-fashioned grits, cane syrup, handmade knives, fishing gear, keychains, tie-dye, handcrafted soaps, blankets, puzzles, vintage collectibles, specialty seasonings, lamps, embroidered apparel, signature dish towels, hand-poured candles, face painting, leather items, vintage/cast iron cookware, women's clothing, wreaths, dog snacks and more!
Friday night's Street Dance is a fan favorite. The funky rocking soulful bluesy country pop duet Baby Gray will get your feet stomping and your hips swaying. Michelle Milligan's rich lead vocals combine with Bobby Kennedy's award-winning instrumentation to fill the air with acoustic versions of their favorite tunes and standards from across the music genres. Thanks to Mike's Pest Solutions and Jefferson County Teachers Credit Union for sponsoring the dance.
Alcoholic beverages can be purchased both Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Beer Garden, sponsored by McPherson Construction and Design, at the corner of Pearl and Cherry streets. Settle into the lawn seating or take your drink on a stroll through the festival.
The Family Entertainment, sponsored by Xfinity and Comcasat, is none other than Magician Remy Taylor. Catch the shows on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Watermelon Festival also marks the last weekend of MadCo's children's theater production of “Hot Dogs, Cool Cats.” Festival-goers can see the talented actors/singers/dancers in this lively whodunit on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the historic Monticello Opera House. Admission is Adults/$15, Students 13+/$10 and Children/$5.
Saturday's festivities get going with the Kiwanis 5K Melon Run, a Gulf Winds Grand Prix event. Participants can register beginning at 7 a.m. at the First Methodist Church on Walnut Street. The race begins at 8:15 a.m., and awards will be given for Three Deep Male and Female in each five-year age group as well as Top Male & Female for Overall, Masters, Grandmasters and Local.
This year's Watermelon Festival Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Grand Marshal Michele Arceneaux presides over this year's parade, which was organized under the leadership of Parade Chair Brenda Wirick and is sponsored by Allison Tant, Trademark Homes Center, MLD Architects and LeafFilter. Floats and other entries will be decorated to convey this year's theme of “Homegrown Happiness,” so be sure to line up along Jefferson Street north and south of the courthouse to see the Watermelon Royalty as well as your friends, neighbors and local groups showcasing their slice of the good life the way we grow it in Jefferson County. All entries will be judged, and winners will be chosen for Best Merchant, Best Civic or Group Organization, Most Unusual, Spirit Award, Best Theme and Best in Parade.
After the parade on Saturday, make your way through the Antique Car Show, which begins at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of The First Bank, just one block east of the courthouse. Organized under the leadership of Craig McCollum, the show includes all types of vehicles, including antique, classics, customs, street rods, late models, trucks and motorcycles. Trophies will be presented at noon.
Also gearing up at 11 a.m. on Saturday are the Platform Events, sponsored by Duke Energy, on a stage at the corner of Cherry and High streets. The performances last until 3 p.m. and include The Young Fogies with the Pepper Steppers, A Little Bit of Mexico, Mountain Dew Cloggers, Shaw Horton and Southern Twang. Be sure to get in on the Wacky Watermelon Games at 1:15 p.m., for some seed-spitting, melon-exploding fun!
All in all, you won't find a weekend quite like this anywhere around! The Watermelon Festival Committee thanks its Premier Sponsor, CWR Contracting, as well as Festival Sponsors Trulieve, Pop's Sanitation Services and Duke Energy for their support.