Chamber hosts festival pageant July 20
Who will be crowned this year’s Watermelon Queen? That question will be answered Saturday at the Franklin County Watermelon Festival Pageant.
The pageant, hosted by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the beloved Watermelon Festival, is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Russellville City Schools Auditorium. The annual contest is open to girls 0-21 years old.
Admission for spectators is $5.
Judges will award winners in multiple categories. Each age division – 0-11 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-9 years, 10-13 years, 14-17 years and 18-21 years – will have a queen, first runner-up, second runner-up, most photogenic, prettiest dress, prettiest smile and prettiest hair.
Queens will be presented at the Watermelon Festival Opening Ceremony Aug. 16 and at the Historic Roxy Theatre Aug. 17. The Watermelon Festival Queen, from the 18-21 age division, will be responsible for cutting the first watermelon at the opening ceremony; awarding prizes in the melon contests; riding in the Russellville Christmas Parade Dec. 5 and crowning the 2020 Watermelon Festival Queen.
