FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Free Fruity Fun in August from the Watermelon Capital of Alabama
Decatur, Ala. (April 23, 2026) – Plenty of sweet juicy fun is on tap the third weekend in August when summer’s favorite fruit takes center stage during the annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival. Set for August 14-15, 2026, in downtown in Russellville, Ala., the Watermelon Festival offers arts and crafts, a variety of watermelon contests, car and truck show, food vendors, children’s activities, games and musical entertainment, along with free samples of watermelon.
The Watermelon Festival weekend kicks off with an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Contests centered on watermelons, including watermelon seed spitting, the largest melon, best tasting melon, most unusual and best-dressed melons, are a highlight each year entertaining festivalgoers of all ages. Live music fills the air both evenings and over 100 vehicles are expected for the car and truck show on Saturday morning. Additional activities include a 5K run and 1-mile fun run, character guests to entertain the children and the Franklin County Extension Office contests.
Friday, Aug. 14 - Music Lineup
6:30 PM – Opening Ceremony (National Anthem by Joseph Baldwin)
7:00 PM – Joseph Baldwin
8:30 PM – Maggie Baugh
Saturday, Aug. 15 - Music Lineup
5:30 PM – Brody Nix
6:00 PM – Tremayne
7:00 PM – Rewind
8:30 PM – Tracy Byrd
The event was voted Best Adults and Children’s Events in the Tennessee Valley in a reader’s choice poll conducted by the Franklin County Times for the past five years.
All activities take place along Main Street (Jackson Avenue) in downtown Russellville. Hours are 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
For more details, visit the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce website at www.franklincountychamber.org and click on the Watermelon Festival link or call 256.332.1760. For the latest information, follow the Franklin County Watermelon Festival page on Facebook and Instagram.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
