Plan your visit to Cave City and make sure to attend their Watermelon Festival in July! Between the time Arkansas became a state in 1836 and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, a migration of families moved into the area that was later to become Cave City. . The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. The watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce the festival watermelons and proudly stand behind every melon they sell. Usually the famous watermelons are ready to go by July 4th but this year the crop is a little behind. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. D & S Rodeo If you love rodeo and music, you will want to head to the D & S Arena. This and resellers marking the melons up to make so large of profit that the cost of their fruit is much higher than the Johnsons melons at their stand. On her blog, Seek Adventures, Julie shares about the outdoor and travel adventures of her family as they camp and standup paddleboard across the South. Today it still stands as the oldest motor court of its kind in the state, and likely the entire region. This included transplanting. New foods, new places, new experiences. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. Three Chicks Flea Market This vintage market contains a great collection of merchandise just waiting to be discovered by the next treasure hunter. This will mark the festival's 30th year. The Festival will happen at the Cave City Park. If they have banana pudding on the menu, order extra to go! Local businesses will hold special events throughout town as well. This is a skillset that has been continually improved upon by the Johnsons since the 1920s. They carry everything you need for a successful fishing trip on the Spring River. Older Post Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs. Phillip spoke of his grandfathers stubborn nature, a trait that at least, in part, led to the success and longevity of his business being carried through to his son and grandsons. You can also learn more about her writing on her site Seek Adventures Media. The Johnson Brothers also grow cantaloupes and typically employ four or five teenagers to help get the melons out each summer. Phillip - 870-307-9632 Gary - 870-283-2854 Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m.Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! Woods Riverbend Restaurant If you love waterfront dining you are in for a treat at Woods. Live music begins at 5:45 p.m. with Anna Brinker, followed by Dixon Street and Tracy Byrd. Phillip said before harvesting, they first thump, pat, roll and then finally cut them off the plant. Julie explained You want that melon to sound hollow. Its the perfect spot to embark on a treasure hunt. By 1955, the Melon Growers Association met and elected a Board of Directors, consisting of Hassel Ford (President), Silas James, Coy Crow, Verl Ball, and Ernest Landers (who, by the way, was Charles Landers father). Copyright 2020 Newsup. That is what is so amazing, the last few years, people come to us and we dont take that for granted.. At. Back to . Updated: Aug. 13, 2020 at 3:19 PM PDT. The area now known as Cave City was originally situated entirely in Independence County, most of which was in Barren Township. Historical Marker An historical marker documenting the Civil War in Sharp County and the Sharp Family in the Civil War can be seen at the corner of West Main and Court Streets. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks and Tourism. And Cave City, Arkansas, has rightfully earned recognition for being the home of the worlds sweetest watermelons. Some of these were Hickory Valley, Sandtown, Curia, Clarkson, Reeds Creek/Fairview, Maxville, Emery, Mobley, Flat Rock, Cedar Grove, and Loyal. They bring with them lots of experience. Years of hard work, dedication, innovation and building a brand has put them at the top of the crop in Cave City watermelon production for nearly a half century. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Now, in its 43rd year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region and has been voted as one of Arkansas' best festivals. Check out the photo gallery and tell us that doesnt look like a great time. Be sure to stop by on a Friday and order the catfish. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! In August of 1958, Burnis Brown was the manager of the Cave City Watermelon Growers Association, which consisted of 127 members with 1,000 acres planted in watermelons. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. . Panhandlewatermelon.com - , Xranks. Prior to planting, they use a machine to lay down the black plastic and drip tape that will carry water to the plants after they are transplanted. You can always check the Cave City Watermelon Festival's website to get information on each of the certified growers. So much so that Cave Citys watermelons are celebrated each year at the annual Cave City Watermelon Festival Celebrating its 42ndyear, the 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. These include learning optimal plant and row spacing and the biggest innovation since the beginning utilizing irrigation techniques. Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event. After a while when I got done, she grabbed a hold of that hoe and threw it across the field and said, I quit. That Spring, Lester taught his sons the ins and outs of watermelon production that he learned from his own father. For more information, visitwww.arkansas.com. Cave City's registered growers plan to keep the town's tradition alive, and start preparing for the 41st Watermelon festival. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. Activities include a childrens fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed spitting contest, free watermelon feast, prize melon auction, incredible food, kids wet zone, and live music. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. You can even take a short side trip to check out their furniture and appliance store in Glencoe. Before implementing irrigation, Phillip explained, We spent lots of quality time with that garden hoe. He admitted he was very picky about how it was done. Watermelons Schedule your trip for mid-July through August and grab a watermelon or two from one of the registered growers. Watermelon Festival - The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. 2 personas estn hablando de esto. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. 167. Held in the Cherry Capital of the WorldTraverse City, Michigan, that isthe National Cherry Festival runs for the entire week of July 1-8, a testament to just how celebrated this stone fruit is among locals and tourists alike (We are thrilled to put cherries on the top of everyones mind, reads the official website). In the beginning, they took trips to sell melons. Watermelon Growers Games - In front of Melon stage. In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. Far Out & Funky This fun antique store wears its name well! 167 and 115. It doesnt quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. Cave City bills itself as having the worlds sweetest watermelons. Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed full of fun and entertainment for the entire family. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. YP, the YP logo and all other YP marks contained herein are trademarks of YP LLC and/or YP affiliated companies. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m. Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. Blueberry Fields Forever Judsonia, AR, 72081. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. We got 2000 plants from a hot greenhouse. I decided to carry on the tradition and raised my first solo melon crop the next spring. "Sometimes they do and they have for as long as I can remember," he said. Real, authentic Cave City melons come from registered growers and have an official sticker on them. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Growers prepare for Cave City Watermelon Festival, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Plans for new Sikeston fire station moving forward, Buddhist monks to create mandala sand painting at Lyon College. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy are headlining the 2023 festival. file size: 5 MB. The building for that church was completed in 1898 and existed until the Methodist Church was united in 1939. C. S. Lawthorp began promoting the oversized melons to shippers and the local farmers quickly took note. Spring River The Spring River is a favorite spot to fish, swim and float. Perkey Farms is a family owned and operating watermelon farm. From July 27-29 i n Cave City, Arkansas, you'll find a feast of watermelon courtesy of local growers; the website also notes that "Catfish dinners, pancake breakfasts, talent shows, watermelon judging contests, 5K runs, ice cream making contests, car shows and local entertainment have filled the event calendar" in previous years. Most recognize Gary and Phillip as the Watermelon Men, but in reality, Johnsons melon production began long before the two men were even a thought. Haley Adams enjoys a big slice of watermelon at the 2007 Cave City Watermelon Festival. The original church was located on the site of the current Hometown Market. Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . His son, Eagle Street, later became president in 1942 and served until 1984. When you think of farming in Arkansas, you likely imagine vast soybean, [] when said friend has a full slate of activities planned that go beyond the aforementioned fruit. Prior to that, Phillip said, We just trusted in the Lord and the weather. Rainfall or lack thereof is detrimental to the production of watermelons. Also, be sure to grab a piece of carrot cake if its on the menu. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. County Music Legion Tracy Byrd, will be headlining this years festival on Saturday Night. Phillip went on to explain that in the early days it was hard to sell a watermelon. CAVE CITY, Ark. Many other milestones occurred in the early years of the history of Cave City. Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! You cant go wrong with anything on their menu but be sure to order a Cinnamon Roll Iced Coffee! We have very loyal people. The festival struck Gold, outshining all the other entries in the Best Video Promotion (Budget under $100,000) division. In 2015 they "retired", and a new committee of volunteers have since taken the festival to even greater success, with expanded entertainment, activities for the entire family, and record-setting crowds; from the beginning to now it's always been about celebrating the town and its rich history of producing the worlds best watermelons. The boys did as any good sons would and began to take on the responsibilities of the farm. Thankfully, that changed once we finally shook winter and headed into May. For Food Vendor Inquiries call Andrea @ 870-283-5301, For Craft & Commercial Vendor Inquiries email Hana @ craftmelonvendor@yahoo.com, For Volunteer Opportunities call Robin @ 870-283-1195For Entertainment Inquiries call Tyler @ 870-283-4877, To become a sponsor call Julie @ 870-307-9631, Copyright 2022, Cave City Watermelon Festival. Not necessarily "scare-your-pants-off" adventure but the kind where you seek out new and exciting things. Right now, everything is on track for the festival to start Thursday. The Cave City Watermelon Festival, on which Julie serves with a committee since 2015, will be held at the Cave City Park July 28-30. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m. Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. Grab a cooler and gas up the tank because we are heading out in search of good eats, unique treasures and scenic vistas. One of the main draws to Hardy is the Spring River and its a must if you enjoy floating. Many features won't work correctly, and functionality can't be guaranteed. Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, West Memphis, Batesville, Mountain View, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia. Watermelon feast at 4 p.m to be discovered by the Johnsons since the 1920s and proudly stand behind melon. 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