People throng the streets of last year’s Watermelon Festival. There’s plenty to attract people of all ages – vendors, food, music, games, giveaways and more.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

It’s not just slice after slice of free watermelon. It’s not just 16-plus hours of free live entertainment. It’s not just food, or just activities, or just community fellowship.

The Watermelon Festival is all that and more.

Everything kicks off Friday with the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony at 5:45 p.m. Jessica McSpadden will perform the National Anthem before an afternoon and evening of musical entertainment takes the main stage, featuring four groups before the close of the festival Friday.

Saturday morning the festival begins in earnest with the introduction of the Watermelon Pageant winners at 10 a.m.

Of course, that’s just the first official entertainment of the day, taking place at the Roxy. A few hours earlier and a few blocks away, at 6:45 a.m., racers will begin registering for the Watermelon Festival 5K, held at the RHS track and on the RHS campus. Registration begins at the field house. Cost is $25 for the 5K and $20 for the one-mile fun run, with proceeds to benefit the RHS majorettes.

The Kruzin’ for Kids Motorcycle Ride, sponsored by the Special Programming for Achievement Network, will be held Saturday morning as well, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. at the S.P.A.N. headquarters, 515 College Ave. Entry fee is $25 per bike for single or $30 for double and includes a meal. Proceeds benefit S.P.A.N. There will also be door prizes, T-shirts and a 50/50 drawing. (For more information call 256-332-0188).

Stage shows will begin Saturday at the Roxy at 10:15 a.m. and continue through late afternoon when the main stage cranks up at 4 p.m.

But music, of course, isn’t the only thing that draws people to the festival.

The car and truck show, a beloved annual feature of the festival, is hosted by the RHS Booster Club Saturday morning. Registration is from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and is $20 for the first car and $15 or each additional car. Judging will begin at 11 a.m. and prizes will be awarded at noon. The show has been moved to a new location this year, at the south end of Jackson Avenue, beginning at Lawrence Street and going south toward CB&S Bank. “We’re trying to get the car show and the tractor show together,” said chamber director Cassie Medley. “The people at the tractor show – they don’t have time to walk the five blocks to see the cars, and vice-versa. I like them being together. I think it’s going to be good for both of them.”

The tractor show will be significantly expanded this year, as Russellville is playing host to the International Harversters for their state meeting. “We expect well over 100 tractors to be here, which is amazing,” Medley said. “There’s a good possibility a high-crop will be here. That hasn’t been confirmed though.”

Medley said she thinks the tractor show attracts people of all ages: “especially the little bitty fellows who just have a love of tractors” but also adults, who like to reminisce – “‘Oh, I had one of those,’ or ‘My daddy one like this.’ I do that too. I have no idea what kind of tractor my daddy had, but I just like to look at them,” Medley said.

Another aspect of the festival moving to a new location is the children’s area, moving north one block on Jackson Avenue.

“There’s going to be a bucking bull, swings, bouncies – everything you can think of. Kids will spend the entire time,” Medley said. “One of our directors said that was the best money he spent because when they were ready to go home, the kids were exhausted, and they went right to bed.”

The children’s area is open the same hours as the festival itself.

From 10 a.m. to noon, children and adults alike won’t want to miss their opportunity to meet a few high-profile guests at this year’s festival. Captain America, Spiderman, Wolverine, Anna, Elsa and Cinderella will be available for meet and greet, photos and autographs at the Valley State Bank downtown branch and the Elizabeth Lucas Courthouse Annex. Autograph booklets will be available for purchase.

Vendors will positively pack the street, featuring everything from airbrushed tattoos and face painting to arts and crafts, medical services, food offerings and more.

But the question Medley gets time after time, year after year, is “Where is the watermelon?” On Friday, juicy slices of free watermelon will be available near the stage. On Saturday it will be offered at the First Baptist Church park from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. “Everybody should be full of watermelon,” Medley said.

Eating watermelon isn’t the only purpose for it at Franklin County’s festival. Of utmost importance are the watermelon contests. Contest will include seed spitting (adult and child categories), largest watermelon, best-tasting watermelon, most unusual and best-dressed. “This year I look for some Minions,” Medley said. “Last year we had an Olaf … I think whatever is hot that year is what people come up with for best dressed.”

Two new contests will also join the longstanding tradition – the largest Franklin County watermelon and a watermelon-eating contest, which includes a $20 fee.

Contest registration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, judging begins at noon, and prizes will be given at 1 p.m.