The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts and crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as locally grown smoked chicken and golden fried catfish. What else can you do at the festival? You can participate in a 5k race, participate in Watermelon Olympics, enter the "Watermelon Idol" talent contest, browse the car show, and have a blast in the Kidz Zone.    

Schedule:

Monday, August 7th 2023

6:00 p.m: Hope Watermelon Festival Parade
Line up site: Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home Parking Lot
Last years pageant winners to grand marshal this years parade
All pageant contestants and local businesses are encouraged to participate
There will be awards for most festive floats
Click Here For Registration Information

Thursday, August 10, 2023

12:00 p.m: Festival Opens
12:00 p.m: Watermelon Festival Ribbon Cutting and Pageant Winner Introduction
12:00 p.m: Kidzone Opens
12:00 p.m: Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens
5:00 p.m: Watermelon by The Slice Opens, Big Tent
6:00 p.m: Watermelon Contest Weigh in, Coliseum
6:00 p.m: Jr. Watermelon Olympics, in front of Cricket Wireless Stage
6:30 p.m: Watermelon Olympics, meet at Legion Field  
5:00 p.m: Arnetta Bradford, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Rafter J Living Proof Band, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage

6:30 p.m: Watermelon Olympics
3 on 3 Basketball
Vollyball Competition
Tug-A-War
Watermelon Relay
Closet to the Hole(Golf)
8 Person team - 6 Meals, 2 Females

6:00 p.m: Jr. Watermelon Olympics in front of the Cricket Wireless Stage.

Friday, August 11, 2023

9:00 a.m: Festival Opens
9:00 a.m: Kidz Zone Opens
9:00 a.m: Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens
10:00 a.m: Watermelon by The Slice Opens, Big Tent
3:00 p.m: Carl Jackson, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
6:00 p.m: Washington Vintage Dancers, in front of coliseum
6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m: Jacob Flores, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
7:00 p.m: Cornhole Tournament, Legion Field
7:00 p.m: Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament Begins, Kelly Fields

5:00 p.m: Watermelon Idol at Cricket Stage
Click Here For Registration Information

Limited to 20 entries total. First come, first served.
No previous winners are allowed to enter the competition.
There are no separate categories for age or individual/group acts.
No arguing with or harassing the judges will be tolerated.
If you are late for your time slot, you will be disqualified.
Contestants must provide their own instruments and/or soundtracks.

Click Here For Hope Watermelon Tournament Information

Saturday, August 12, 2023

7:30 a.m: Watermelon 5k, Front Gate - Click Here For Registration Information
8:30 a.m: Melon Mile, Front Gate
8:00 a.m: Civitan Car Show, Behind Cricket Wireless Stage - $25 Entry Fee
9:00 a.m: Fishing Derby, Huckabee Lake
9:00 a.m: Festival Opens
9:00 a.m: Kidz Zone Opens
9:00 a.m: Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens
9:00 a.m: Rusty Relics Antique Tractor Club    
9:00 a.m: Dancetastics Dance Studio, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
9:30 a.m: Money in the Haystack, Kidz Zone
10:0 a.m: Watermelon Waddle Duck Races, Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool
10:00 a.m: Watermelon by The Slice Opens, Big Tent
10:00 a.m: Southwest Arkansas Taekwondo Demonstration, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
11:00 a.m: Hope Piranhas Swim Team Exhibition, Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool
11:00 a.m: Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest, Cricket Wireless Stage  
11:30 a.m: Watermelon Auction, Big Tent     
12:00 p.m: Watermelon Eating Contest, Cricket Wireless Stage  
12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m: Autism Sings, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage  
1:30 p.m: Seed Spitting Competition, Cricket Wireless Stage    
2:30 p.m - 4:00 p.m: Watermelon Idol Preliminaries, Cricket Wireless Stage    
3:00 p.m: Birds with Teeth Band, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage  
5:00 p.m: Nighthawk Band, Farmers Bank and Trust Stage  
8:30 p.m: The Marshal Tucker Band: CMC Stage (Gates open at 6pm)

Date: August 10 - 12, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Hope, AR 71801

Click Here For More Information