Watermelon Capital of Alabama Offers Free Fruity Fun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381

Watermelon Capital of Alabama Offers Free Fruity Fun

Decatur, Ala. – Plenty of fruity fun is on tap the third weekend in August when summer’s favorite snack takes center stage during the annual Watermelon Festival. Set for August 16-17, 2019 in Russellville, Ala., the Watermelon Festival offers arts and crafts, a variety of watermelon contests, car and truck show, tractor show, food vendors, children’s activities, games and musical entertainment, along with free samples of watermelon.

The festival weekend begins with opening ceremonies at 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Music gets underway at 6 p.m. when Rewind takes the stage, followed by the Joseph Baldwin Band and Shootin’ You Straight, a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band. The music continues on Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. with performances by Dixie Mafia, Kozmic Mama and Absolute Journey Tribute. Additional free local entertainment can be found on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the historic Roxy Theatre.

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. Over 100 vehicles are expected for the car and truck show on Saturday and additional activities include a 5K run and 1-mile fun run, character guests to entertain the children and the Franklin County Extension Office contests.

The prestigious Southeast Tourism Society has named the Watermelon Festival a Top 20 Event in the Southeast for August 2019. Founded in 1983, STS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism to its 12 member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

All activities take place along Main Street (Jackson Avenue). 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, like the Franklin County Watermelon Festival page on Facebook.

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)

AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the 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, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. 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 from the AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.northalabama.org.

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