Feature image above: One of the weekend’s most anticipated events is the watermelon-eating contest. Watermelon fans of every age are encouraged to join the fun, vying for the win — and bragging rights. Photos courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
Watermelons are a big deal in Hope — literally — since some of the country’s largest watermelons have been grown in the area. One weighing more than 250 pounds has even clinched a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The legacy of watermelons in the area is something to celebrate, and celebrants do that every year with the annual Hope Watermelon Festival. This year, the festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a week of events starting Aug. 3.
“It’s a way that our whole community comes together for the festival and invites people into Hope and Hempstead counties to show them our town,” said Christy Burns, executive director of the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce.
The history of the festival dates all the way back to the 1920s, when the city’s chamber of commerce staged a one-day festival and served watermelons to passengers on trains stopping in Hope. The festival also featured a Watermelon Queen pageant and large parade, bringing about 20,000 to the area. However, the festivals ended during the early 1930s, when the city could not support the crowds amid the Great Depression.
In 1975, the idea to bring back the festival came up after a successful city centennial celebration. Local newspaperman C.M. “Pod” Rogers organized a new watermelon festival in 1977, and since then, the festival has continued to grow.
This year, the week of the festival kicks off with the watermelon festival parade Monday, Aug. 3, followed Aug. 4 by the watermelon festival pageant, both reminiscent of the original watermelon celebrations.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, vendors will arrive to prep for the main event: festival weekend. The chamber had a record number of applications for vendors this year, and Burns said it was very hard to narrow down the pool.
“We have a lot of new vendors and food trucks coming,” she said. “A lot of them are things we haven’t had at the festival before, so we’re excited about that.”
On Thursday, Aug. 6, the official festival kicks off, and the next three days are set to be full of nonstop watermelon-themed fun, including the Watermelon Olympics and a dog show. In past years, dogs of every shape and size have competed, many donning watermelon costumes.
Friday’s highlights include Melon Jams, an open mic in which anyone who cares to can perform. For sporty people, a cornhole tournament and a softball tournament are also on the docket.
The 50th year of the celebration is anticipated to be the biggest yet, likely bringing in more than 30,000 visitors to enjoy the weekend’s festivities and concert.
“The softball tournament actually goes throughout the entire weekend, overnight and everything,” Burns said. “It’s a huge deal.”
Saturday starts at 7:30 a.m. with Watermelon 5K, followed by the Melon Mile race. A car show also starts at about 8 a.m. and promises to bring in a large collection of impressive vehicles.
“We had over 100 entries last year, and I think they were already pushing that many a month beforehand, so it should be a big car show,” Burns said.
Some of the biggest events at the festival take place on Saturday, including the watermelon weigh-in, watermelon-eating contests and seed-spitting contest. The watermelon-eating contest is divided into age groups so anyone can join the fun.
“Anyone from the smallest of babies to whoever wants to can compete,” she said.
There is also the “politically correct” watermelon-eating contest in which local government officials and politicians compete for the top prize.
Festivalgoers should not leave the festival without trying the famous ice-cold Hope watermelon slices, which are available all weekend long, Burns said, along with a litany of food options.
“The food is always one of my favorite parts,” she said.
Every day of the festival will feature local entertainers performing on two different stages in the area. A kids zone also offers fun for the little ones in the family with games, rides and more. This year, organizers have also brought back the arm-wrestling competition, dubbed Melon Strong.
“We try to do a bit more every year,” Burns said.
Upping the ante every year has helped the festival attract more than 30,000 visitors annually, but Burns expects this year to have even more attendees.
“We’ve been really pleased and thankful for the attendance and the participation,” she said. “Attendance has been great the past few years, but this year will be even bigger and better.”
A festival this big does not come together overnight. In fact, Burns practically begins planning the next year’s event right when the current one ends. Kimberly McMahan, the chamber’s administrative assistant, along with a small group of board members and volunteers, helps run the festival. All the money the festival makes goes back into funding the following year’s event.
The 2026 festival is capped off by a concert Saturday night at Hope Fair Park grounds, headlined by Gretchen Wilson, the voice behind the country music megahit “Redneck Woman.”
“We’ve had some really great concerts, but I think this one is going to be the highest attended, and we’re pretty excited about that,” Burns said.
The winners of Watermelon Idol and Junior Watermelon Idol will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. Rising star and Arkansas native Mae Estes will open for Wilson at 7 p.m., and then Wilson will close out the festivities at 8 p.m.
“We’re excited to let guests enjoy the watermelon festival, the watermelons and all the things that bring us together,” Burns said.
For a full list of events or to purchase tickets to Saturday’s show, visit hopewatermelonfest.com.
SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR AUGUST 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE
