Iowa Watermelon Festivals in 2024:  Find a Watermelon Festival Near You!

Looking for a Watermelon festival in Iowa in 2024? (just scroll down the page)There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the Watermelon festivals in Iowa we can find are listed on this page! If you love strawberries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm always looking for more Watermelon festivals! Please write me, if you know of any to add!  I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website. 

Always click on the links to the festival to confirm this year's dates; weather and other conditions could cause a change at the last minute. They may change or cancel at the last minute. . If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Click here for the form to add a festival and have detailed information; or click here if you have general information and are not connected with the event!

Iowa 2024Watermelon Festivals Festivals - Where, When and More Details!

Iowa

Watermelons typically ripen from June (in northern Florida and Texas) through July, August  and September in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest and New England. July and August dominatesas the months for Watermelon production (and festivals) Unlike strawberries, which grow almost anywhere, watermelons are grown commercially far fewer states, since they require warmer temperatures and a much longer season.

There are two general types of Watermelon festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Watermelon festival held at and by a farm. They are different in what they offer, and community festivals tend to be less expensive so they are grouped separately. (of course not all states and areas have both.)
Following the festival listings are links to our easy to follow directions about making Watermelon jam, freezing watermelons, Watermelon pies and much more.

Community Watermelon Festivals

• Fayette Watermelon Days - Always held on the weekend after Labor Day, September 8th, 9th and 10th.
  Clark and S. Main Street, Fayette, Iowa. Phone: 330-978-5710. Email: fayettewatermelondays@gmail.com. Watermelon Days is held in Fayette, Iowa the first weekend after Labor Day and is a 3 day event. It will be celebrating it's 46th year and we are excited for all the things that will be at Watermelon Days. Our goal is to provide as much FREE Family Entertainment as we can. FREE Kid's Games, FREE Inflatables, FREE Lazer Tag, FREE Face Painting, FREE Watermelon, FREE Balloons from Mr. Nick, Fireworks, Sky Lantern Launch, Parade, Live Entertainment, Car Show, Vendor Fair and much more!
• Hummerston Watermelon Days -   Early July weekend
  Humeston, IA. Phone : 641-872-1536. Emai : wayneco@grm.net. Parade, games, food, entertainment. Free watermelon Saturday afternoon.
• Montrose Annual Watermelon Festival - August 16th, 17th and 18th, 2018
  S 1st St, Montrose, IA 52639. Phone: 319-463-5533. The Festival opens at 5 pm on Thursday and Friday and after the parade on Saturday. Since 1945 the community of Montrose has been holding this festival that features free watermelon, great food, crafts, town-wide garage sales, and entertainment. A Watermelon Parade is held on Saturday morning. Free. Event details: Thursday (16th) and Friday (17th) hours are 5pm to 10 pm and Saturday (18th) hours are from 1pm to 10pm.
  Vendors, Please contact Peg Aicher at 319-463-5955
• Stanhope Watermelon Day - July 21, 2018
  Stanhope, IA. Parade starts at 10:30 after everyone heads to the City Park to enjoy the day festivities.

Farm Watermelon Festivals

In addition to community and church festivals, some private farms have their own Watermelon festivals.  See each farm for this year's dates (they often do not announce them until the end of May). They usually have PYO strawberries then, too.  Also, scroll down to see the links to recipes, freezing, canning and jam making directions at the bottom of the page.

• We will be adding these as we find them;  Please write me, if you know of any to add!

Related Watermelon Information: Watermelon jelly and Pickled watermelon rinds

Besides eating them fresh, watermelons make two great preserves which are really easy to make with these illustrated, step-by-step instructions:

• Pickled watermelon rinds are sweet and delicious!. See this page for the easy recipe).
• Easy watermelon jelly recipe.

 

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!