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

Looking for a Watermelon festival in Texas 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 Texas 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!

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

Texas

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

• Alamo Watermelon Festival - one Saturday in May from 3PM until 11PM.
  Alamo Central Park, Alamo, TX 78516. Phone: 956.787.6622. There will be slices of watermelon, there will also be a watermelon-eating contest, a seed-spitting contest, kiddie rides, food and craft vendors, a beer garden, the famous BBQ Cook-Off and live music. It's the perfect event to attend with your family or friends if you're looking for some culture-rich, friendly fun. From rides for the kids, to contests and food and craft vendors, there's no telling where the fun will begin and end. There's something for everyone, whether you will be there for the food or entertainment. If you're looking for your next family outing, look no further. The best part? Profits earned at the festival will help support small business growth in the city. The only thing better than refreshing watermelon in the South Texas heat is a South Texas BBQ Cook-Off. From your favorites like fajitas and ribs to even more delectable eats like juicy pulled pork cooked to perfection, you can try it all. The teams participating in the cook-off will be locals, and that makes this festival even more rewarding to attend. Supporting your fellow community members in this way is what makes this city so great. ANd Live Music. If everything we mentioned before wasn't enough to interest you, then know that this festival is FREE of charge and open to the general public.
• Center, TX WHAT-A-Melon Festival - July
  Downtown Historic Center Square. Center, TX 75935. Phone: (936) 598-3682 . Email: secretary@shelbycountychamber.com. Watermelon weighing contest, children's tent, watermelon "biggest bite" contest, seed spittin' contest, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and food booths.
• De Leon Peach and Melon Festival - August, Tuesday to Saturday
  Festival grounds and Downtown, De Leon, TX. Judging of 4H Cake Entries Festival Stage, Judging of Peach Desserts Festival Stage, Judging of Melons and Fruits Festival Stage, Talley Amusement Carnival Begins Festival Grounds, Street Parade Begins Downtown, Kids Tractor Pulls Festival Grounds, 5K "Watermelon Crawl" Downtown, Seed Spitting Contest Downtown, Free Watermelon Slicing Downtown, Talley Amusement Carnival Begins Festival Grounds, Gospel/Bluegrass Festival Stage
  Tractor Pulls OTTPA and TTTPA Tractor Pull Arena, Presentation of Miss De Leon Festival Stage.
• McDade Watermelon Festival - Always the 2nd Saturday in July!
  McDade, Texas. Phone: 512-332-1270. Email: info@mcdadetexas.com. Street dance with live music, food and beverages. Melon weigh-in followed by a parade and a full day of music, food, games, melon auction, and much, much more!
• Annual Hempstead Watermelon Festival - over 29 years, mid July weekend starts at 9 am
  Gazebo Park, Hempstead, Texas. The Watermelon Capital of Texas. Music, parade, great food and BBQ cookoff. Homegrown and commercial watermelon contests. Quilt Show, See the Hempstead Watermelon Festival event page here.
  Sample schedule for 2020:
  THURSDAY 5 Pm - ​Carnival Opens, 11th and Main St.
  FRIDAY 5 Pm - Carnival Opens, 11th and Main St.; 6 Pm - Jr. BBQ Cook-Off, Gazebo Park; 7 Pm - Street Dance, Depot Park
  SATURDAY 9 Am Watermelon Festival Parade, Austin St., Quilt Show Starts, City Hall; Vendors Open, Downtown
  ​10:30 AM Opening Ceremonies, Gazebo Park; Queen Coronation, Gazebo Park; Parade Awards, Gazebo Park; BBQ Judging Starts, Fire Station
  1:30 PM Watermelon Eating Contest, Gazebo Park; Seed Spitting Contest, Gazebo Park
  2 Pm - ​Watermelon Auction, Gazebo Park
  5 Pm - BBQ Cook-Off Awards, Depot Park
  8:45 PM - Stop Selling Raffle Tickets
  9 Pm -12 Am - ​​​​Street Dance Depot Park
  9:30 PM - ​Raffle Drawing - Depot Park
  12 Am - Shutdown
• Naples TX Watermelon Festival and Rodeo - Held each year on the last full weekend of July,
  Naples, Texas. Parade, craft booths, entertainment, a street dance, and a fully sanctioned PRCA rodeo. One of the biggest events in the area is the Naples, Texas Watermelon Festival, held each year on the last full weekend in July. The event draws people from far and wide, and a good time is had by all. The Watermelon Festival has one of the major parades in North East Texas, many craft booths, special entertainment, a street dance, and a fully sanctioned PRCA rodeo during the week of events.
• Luling Watermelon Thump festival - Always the LAST FULL weekend of June SINCE 1954 (June 24 - 27, 2021)
  Luling, Texas. The Watermelon Thump Association is a group of volunteers that meet monthly most of the year and weekly the two month prior to the big event, The Watermelon Thump. Led by its board, the Thump Association organizes a very large festival for a small town. For four days, the small population town of Luling, Texas (5800) brings in tens of thousands of visitors for a weekend of fun and music and the biggest seed-spitting contest in America. Every year kids love seeing everything we have to offer: watermelon, carnival rides, petting zoo, ice cream and more! World Championship WATERMELON Seed Spitting Competitions on Friday, Saturday & Sunday (with Cash Prizes). WATERMELON Eating Competitions on Saturday afternoon (with Cash Prizes). The WATERMELON Thump Queen is Crowned on Thursday Evening. WATERMELON Served in our Food Vendors Area all Weekend. Champion WATERMELON Weigh In on Thursday Afternoon. Champion WATERMELON Auction on Saturday afternoon. WATERMELON Items of all Kinds in the Exhibitor Market All Weekend. WATERMELON Beer & Wine Coolers Sold in the Beer Gardens All Weekend. WATERMELON Thump Parade on Saturday Morning.
• Stockdale Annual Watermelon Jubilee - Always the third weekend in June, Thursday through Saturday
  Stockdale, Texas. First celebrated in 1937, the Stockdale Watermelon Jubilee is one of the oldest watermelon festivals in Texas. The Jubilee is a refreshing slice of summer time fun. Come join us, we're sure you will have a great time! All activities except the parade are held at the beautiful Stockdale city park.
• Wichita Falls Farmers Market Watermelon Fest - Saturday typically in late July from 8:30 AM to 2 PM
  Wichita Falls Farmers Market, 713 Ohio Ave, Wichita Falls, TX 76301. Phone: (940) 322-4525. Email: farmersmarket@downtownwf.com. Enjoy a slice of watermelon and a slice of life at this year's Watermelon Fest at the Market! Nearly 70 local vendors featuring all that is homemade, handmade, and homegrown! Watermelon Bar, Seed Spitting Contest, Watermelon Art by carver, Earl Carter, Yoga on the Bricks 9 - 10A (see Balance Yoga + Barre fb page for details). Live music by:
  8-10A ~ Anthony Ailey
  10A- 1P ~ The Fintastics w/ special guest hula dancer, Melly Dee
  Food/beverages/cold treats by: Chicka D's Coffee, Kona Ice, BPOPS

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!