Winterville Watermelon Festival 2024

The Winterville Watermelon Festival is an annual event that celebrates the town’s rich watermelon growing heritage. The festival takes place over three days in August and features a variety of activities for all ages, including live music, food vendors, a watermelon eating contest, and a seed spitting contest. The festival also includes a farmers market, where visitors can purchase fresh watermelons and other produce.

The Winterville Watermelon Festival began in 1974 as a way to promote the town’s watermelon industry. At the time, Winterville was one of the largest watermelon producers in the United States, and the festival was a way to showcase the town’s agricultural heritage. The festival quickly grew in popularity, and today it is one of the largest watermelon festivals in the country, attracting visitors from all over the United States and even from other countries.

The Winterville Watermelon Festival is a fun and family-friendly event that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a watermelon lover or just looking for a fun day out, the festival is sure to please.

Winterville Watermelon Festival 2024

Live music
Food vendors
Watermelon eating contest
Seed spitting contest
Farmers market
Watermelon carving contest
Children’s activities
Craft fair
Beer garden
Fireworks show

Live music

Live music is a big part of the Winterville Watermelon Festival. The festival features a variety of musical acts, from local bands to national touring acts. The music lineup is always diverse, with something to please everyone. In past years, the festival has featured such acts as The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Indigo Girls.

The live music is performed on two stages at the festival. The main stage is located in the center of the festival grounds, and it features the biggest acts. The second stage is located in the beer garden, and it features a more intimate setting for smaller acts.

In addition to the live music, the festival also features a DJ who spins tunes throughout the day. The DJ keeps the party going between sets on the main stage and in the beer garden.

Whether you’re a fan of live music or just looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, the Winterville Watermelon Festival is sure to have something for you.

Food vendors

The Winterville Watermelon Festival features a variety of food vendors, offering everything from classic festival fare to more unique and gourmet options. Here are some of the highlights:

Watermelon everything
Of course, no watermelon festival would be complete without plenty of watermelon-themed food. At the Winterville Watermelon Festival, you’ll find everything from watermelon pizza to watermelon salad to watermelon ice cream.
BBQ
BBQ is another popular option at the festival. There are several vendors serving up ribs, pulled pork, and chicken, all cooked to perfection.
Seafood
If you’re looking for something a little different, there are also several seafood vendors at the festival. You can find everything from fried shrimp to crab cakes to lobster rolls.
Vegetarian and vegan options
The Winterville Watermelon Festival also has a number of vegetarian and vegan options available. These include veggie burgers, tofu scramble, and falafel.

No matter what your taste buds are craving, you’re sure to find something to satisfy you at the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Watermelon eating contest

The watermelon eating contest is one of the most popular events at the Winterville Watermelon Festival. The contest is open to all ages, and the winner is the person who can eat the most watermelon in a two-minute time limit.

The rules are simple
Each contestant is given a whole watermelon, and they must eat as much of it as they can in two minutes. The person who eats the most watermelon wins a prize.
The competition is fierce
The watermelon eating contest is a serious competition, and the contestants train hard for it. Some contestants even eat watermelon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the weeks leading up to the festival.
The crowd is enthusiastic
The watermelon eating contest is always a crowd-pleaser. The spectators cheer on the contestants and encourage them to eat as much watermelon as they can.
The winner is crowned
The winner of the watermelon eating contest is crowned the “Watermelon King” or “Watermelon Queen.” The winner receives a trophy and a year’s supply of watermelon.

The watermelon eating contest is a fun and exciting event that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. If you’re up for a challenge, be sure to sign up for the contest at the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Seed spitting contest

The seed spitting contest is another popular event at the Winterville Watermelon Festival. The contest is open to all ages, and the winner is the person who can spit a watermelon seed the farthest.

The rules of the contest are simple. Each contestant is given three watermelon seeds. The contestants then line up and take turns spitting their seeds. The seed that travels the farthest wins the contest.

The seed spitting contest is a fun and challenging event. It is a great way to test your skills and see how far you can spit a watermelon seed. The contest is also a lot of fun to watch, and the crowd always cheers on the contestants.

The winner of the seed spitting contest receives a trophy and a year’s supply of watermelon seeds. The winner is also crowned the “Seed Spitting King” or “Seed Spitting Queen.”]

The seed spitting contest is a fun and exciting event that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. If you’re up for a challenge, be sure to sign up for the contest at the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Farmers market

The Winterville Watermelon Festival also features a farmers market, where visitors can purchase fresh watermelons and other produce. The farmers market is a great way to support local farmers and get your hands on some of the freshest produce in the area.

Variety of produce
The farmers market at the Winterville Watermelon Festival offers a wide variety of produce, including watermelons, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. You can also find fresh herbs, flowers, and baked goods.
Fresh and local
All of the produce at the farmers market is fresh and local. The farmers who sell their produce at the market grow it themselves, so you can be sure that it is fresh and of the highest quality.
Support local farmers
When you buy produce from the farmers market, you are supporting local farmers. Local farmers are an important part of the community, and they provide us with fresh and healthy food.
Great prices
The prices at the farmers market are very reasonable. You can get fresh, local produce at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at the grocery store.

The farmers market is a great way to get fresh, local produce and support local farmers. Be sure to check it out when you attend the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Watermelon carving contest

The watermelon carving contest is a fun and creative event that is open to all ages. The contest is a great way to show off your artistic skills and win some prizes.

To enter the contest, simply bring a carved watermelon to the festival. The watermelons can be any size or shape, and you can use any carving tools you like. The only rule is that the watermelon must be carved by hand.

The watermelons are judged on their creativity, originality, and execution. The judges are looking for watermelons that are well-carved and that have a unique design.

The winner of the watermelon carving contest receives a trophy and a year’s supply of watermelons. The winner is also crowned the “Watermelon Carving King” or “Watermelon Carving Queen.”]

The watermelon carving contest is a fun and exciting event that is sure to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re up for a challenge, be sure to enter the contest at the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Children’s activities

The Winterville Watermelon Festival offers a variety of children’s activities, making it a great event for the whole family. Here are some of the highlights:

Watermelon races
The watermelon races are a fun and exciting event for kids of all ages. The races are held on a track that is made out of watermelons. The kids race their watermelons to the finish line, and the first one to cross the line wins a prize.

Watermelon seed spitting contest
The watermelon seed spitting contest is another fun event for kids. The kids line up and take turns spitting watermelon seeds. The kid who spits their seed the farthest wins a prize.

Watermelon carving contest
The watermelon carving contest is a great way for kids to show off their creativity. The kids carve watermelons into all sorts of shapes and designs. The watermelons are judged on their creativity, originality, and execution. The winner of the contest receives a trophy and a year’s supply of watermelons.

Petting zoo
The petting zoo is a great place for kids to learn about animals and get up close and personal with them. The petting zoo has a variety of animals, including goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens.

These are just a few of the many children’s activities that are offered at the Winterville Watermelon Festival. With so much to see and do, the festival is sure to be a fun and memorable experience for the whole family.

Craft fair

The Winterville Watermelon Festival also features a craft fair, where visitors can purchase handmade crafts from local artisans. The craft fair is a great way to find unique and one-of-a-kind items, while also supporting local artists.

The craft fair at the Winterville Watermelon Festival offers a wide variety of handmade crafts, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, woodworking, and more. You can also find a variety of food items, such as jams, jellies, and baked goods.

The craft fair is a great place to find gifts for friends and family, or to simply treat yourself to something special. The artisans at the craft fair are passionate about their work, and they take pride in creating high-quality, handmade crafts.

When you purchase a handmade craft from the craft fair, you are not only getting a unique and one-of-a-kind item, but you are also supporting local artists. The money that you spend at the craft fair goes directly back into the community, helping to support local businesses and artists.

The craft fair is a great way to find unique and handmade gifts, while also supporting local artists. Be sure to check it out when you attend the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Beer garden

The Winterville Watermelon Festival also features a beer garden, where visitors can purchase beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. The beer garden is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink while listening to live music or watching the festival events.

Variety of beer and wine
The beer garden at the Winterville Watermelon Festival offers a wide variety of beer and wine, including local craft beers and wines. You can also find a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, such as soda, water, and juice.
Live music
The beer garden features live music throughout the festival. The music lineup includes a variety of genres, so there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
Great atmosphere
The beer garden has a great atmosphere, with plenty of seating and shade. It is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink with friends and family.
Convenient location
The beer garden is conveniently located in the center of the festival grounds. It is easy to get to and from the beer garden, so you can enjoy a drink without missing any of the festival events.

The beer garden is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink while attending the Winterville Watermelon Festival. Be sure to check it out when you attend the festival.

Fireworks show

The Winterville Watermelon Festival concludes with a spectacular fireworks show. The fireworks show is a great way to end the festival and celebrate the summer.

Large and impressive
The fireworks show at the Winterville Watermelon Festival is one of the largest and most impressive fireworks shows in the area. The fireworks are launched from a barge in the middle of the lake, and they can be seen from all over the festival grounds.
Synchronized to music
The fireworks show is synchronized to music, which makes it even more spectacular. The music is played over the festival’s sound system, so everyone can enjoy the show.
Great atmosphere
The fireworks show creates a great atmosphere at the festival. The sky is lit up with bright and colorful fireworks, and the crowd cheers and applauds. It is a truly magical experience.
Perfect ending to the festival
The fireworks show is the perfect ending to the Winterville Watermelon Festival. It is a beautiful and exciting way to celebrate the summer and the festival.

The fireworks show is a must-see event at the Winterville Watermelon Festival. Be sure to stick around after the festival to enjoy the show.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Winterville Watermelon Festival:

Question 1: What are the hours of the festival?
Answer 1: The festival is open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, August 12th, and from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday, August 13th.

Question 2: How much is admission to the festival?
Answer 2:Admission to the festival is free.

Question 3: Where is the festival held?
Answer 3: The festival is held at Winterville City Park, located at 100 Main Street in Winterville, NC.

Question 4: What activities are offered at the festival?
Answer 4: The festival offers a variety of activities, including live music, foodvendors, a watermelon eating contest, a seed spitting contest, a farmers market, a watermelon carving contest, children’s activities, a craft fair, a beer garden, and a
fireworks show.

Question 5: Is there parking available at the festival?
Answer 5: Yes, there is free parking available at the festival.

Question 6: Are pets allowed at the festival?
Answer 6: No, pets are not allowed at the festival.

Question 7: Is the festival accessible to people with
disabilities?
Answer 7: Yes, the festival is accessible to people with disablities. There are ramps and paved walkways throughout the festival grounds.

We hope this FAQ has answered your questions about the Winterville Watermelon Festival. If you have any other questions, please visit the festival website or call the festival hotline at (252) 555-1212.

Now that you know all about the festival, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your experience:

Tips

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your experience at the Winterville Watermelon Festival:

Tip 1: Arrive early
The festival is very popular, so it’s a good idea to arrive early to get a good parking spot and avoid the crowds.

Tip 2: Bring sunscreen and a hat
The festival is held outdoors, so it’s important to protect yourself from the sun. Bring sunscreen and a hat to keep yourself cool and comfortable.

Tip 3: Bring cash
Some of the vendors at the festival only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to bring some cash with you.

Tip 4: Be prepared for the heat
The festival is held in August, so it can be very hot. Be sure to drink plenty of water and stay in the shade as much as possible.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that you have a fun and enjoyable experience at the Winterville Watermelon Festival.

Now that you have all the information you need to plan your trip to the Winterville Watermelon Festival, it’s time to start making your travel arrangements. The festival is a great way to celebrate the summer and enjoy some delicious watermelon.

Conclusion

The Winterville Watermelon Festival is a fun and family-friendly event that celebrates the town’s rich watermelon growing heritage. The festival offers a variety of activities for all ages, including live music, food vendors, a watermelon eating contest, a seed spitting contest, a farmers market, a watermelon carving contest, children’s activities, a craft fair, a beer garden, and a fireworks show.

The festival is a great way to spend a summer day with family and friends. It is also a great way to support local farmers and businesses. We hope to see you at the Winterville Watermelon Festival in 2024!