Franklin County - Watermelon Festival Feature Page

It's Time! The 2006 Franklin County Watermelon Festival is Just Around The Corner!
August 18th and 19th, 2006. Don't miss out!

How about a cold juicy slice of watermelon? Mark your calendar for August 18& 19 and you can have all the watermelon you want! What a perfect way to cool off on a hot Alabama day. The Franklin County Watermelon Festival is an annual two-day event that will appeal to visitors of all ages because of the many fun and exciting things to do all weekend long in Russellville, Alabama.

The Franklin County Watermelon Festival was started over 25 years ago by some local farmers. Each year at harvest time they would bring their melons to town to sell them. Some of the farmers cut their melons and gave away free samples as a way to entice folks to buy them. As the customers gathered around to buy the melons, politicians began to show up to talk and visit with their neighbors from Franklin County. Each year more and more people started to come to hear local officials speak, eat melons and have a good time. Before long someone got the idea that it should be called the Watermelon Festival and it should be held each year. The Chamber of Commerce got involved with the festival over 20 years ago. The growth and popularity of the festival seems to increase each year. It is now one of the largest events in Northwest Alabama.

All photo's above from the 2002 Russellvile Watermelon Festival

For over 4 years the festival has been named a Top 20 Event by Southeast Tourism Society. The festival committee is made up of staff and board members from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and local volunteers. Annual attendance for the festival is around 30,000 people for the two-day event.

The festival officially kicks off Friday evening, August 18th at 7:00 pm. Local dignitaries along with Miss Watermelon, kick off the night with the cutting of the first watermelon. Winners are also announced for the golf and tennis tournaments held earlier in the week. Food vendors, arts and crafts, games and musical entertainment will all be on hand for opening night.

Saturday morning, August 19th, the festival kicks off at 10:00 am. Jackson Avenue in downtown Russellville is a hub of activity. Highlights include arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, games, antique cars and trucks, 5K and 1K run, a 65 mile bike ride and a 35 mile bike ride, free watermelon, watermelon contests such as best decorated, seed spitting, best tasting, largest and our favorite - most unusual.

Full Franklin County Watermelon Festival Schedule for 2006 available here.

All concerts are brought to you admission-free by sponsors! There is also no admission charge to attend the festival.

Accommodations are available at Windwood Inn and Russellville Inns and Suites located in Russellville, Alabama. Camping and trailer hook-ups are available at Bear Creek Lakes, which are located about 20 minutes west of Russellville.

Please join us for a wonderful family weekend in Russellville, Alabama as we celebrate the joys of summer.

Franklin County Watermelon Festival Vendor Application Form Here

Franklin County Watermelon Festival Vendor Rules and Regulations

Franklin County Watermelon Festival T-Shirts are in!

25th Annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival