News
Something for everyone
Posted on August 16, 2018
Originally published in the Times Daily.
Cassie Medley said there is no better way to celebrate summer coming to an end than with a festival.
And one of the biggest in the area will be Friday and Saturday in Russellville with the 38th annual Watermelon Festival.
“We’ll have 40,000 people in Russellville Friday and Saturday – that doubles the population of Franklin County,” said Medley, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, who puts on the festival.
“But there is nothing like it. Downtown on Jackson Avenue will be wall-to-wall people,” said Russellville Mayor David Grissom. “It’s a fun time for everyone, and the chamber does an amazing job putting it all together.”
Medley said the festival features plenty to do for all ages.
“From arts and crafts, to games and various family-oriented activities to musical entertainment, plenty of carnival food and of course watermelon, we’ve got it,” Medley said. “There’s nothing like getting a ribeye steak sandwich from the cattleman’s association, an ear of corn, a funnel cake and ice cream.”
There will be the annual classic truck and car show, and antique tractor show that kick things off on Saturday morning.
“There will be cars and tractors from all over coming in here,” said Grissom. “I love to wander around and look at all of those beautiful cars and trucks. And there will be great old tractors here also.”
The festival starts Friday night with musical entertainment by the Midnighters, Rewind, and 7 Bridges. The Midnighters go on at 6 p.m. and 7 Bridges conclude the evening at 8:30 p.m.
Medley said the stage will be set up near Norris Insurance Agency on Washington Avenue. In case of rain, everything moves into the Roxy Theater on Jackson Avenue.
The car and tractor show kicks things off Saturday. Registration is at 7 a.m. for the car show and 8 a.m. for the tractor show. Awards will be given, beginning at noon.
Local musicians will take the stage inside the Roxy at 10 a.m. and continue to play throughout the day.
Entertainment Saturday evening on the main stage begins at 5 p.m. with the Kerry Gilbert Band. The LA Outlaws will perform at 6 p.m. with the Joseph Baldwin Band at 7 p.m. and the Sweet Tea Trio ending the evening at 8:30.
Medley said there is a wide variety of entertainment.
“There should be something for everyone,” she said.
Plus, there will be watermelon.
Franklin County Extension Agent Katerina Cole Coffey said there are plenty of things that can be done with watermelon.
“Watermelons are good for you, packed with vitamins,” Coffey said. “And it’s not just a dessert. You can make watermelon salsa, watermelon skewers, watermelon coolers, watermelon salad, sorbet and ice cream. There are many things you can do with watermelons.”
Coffey said watermelons, if they are not cut, should be kept at room temperature and can last up to two weeks.
“Once they are cut, they need to be wrapped tightly and can be refrigerated for up to three days,” she said.
Medley said not only will there be plenty of melons to eat, but there will be various contests with watermelon as the main attractions.
She said the contests will be in the playground on Washington Avenue across from First Baptist Church.
Medley said there will be watermelon seed spitting, as well as prizes for the best tasting melon, the largest melon, the largest Franklin County grown melon, the best dressed and the most unusual melon.
For more information on the Watermelon Festival, go to the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce website or call 256-332-1760.