Join Alabama’s Watermelon Capital for the 45th Annual Franklin County Watermelon Festival!
This spectacular family event offers two days of non-stop arts and crafts, a variety of watermelon contests, car and truck shows, food vendors, children’s activities, games, and musical entertainment, along with FREE samples of watermelon!
The festival kicks off on Friday evening with an opening ceremony introducing the Watermelon Pageant Queen and the cutting of the first watermelon! Each evening the main stage lights up with performances from a variety of genres.
Contests:
Enjoy a fresh, sweet slice of watermelon on Saturday morning in the park while you peruse watermelon contest entries in categories such as “Best Dressed,” “Best Tasting,” to “Most Unusual.” Set your watch for noon on Saturday to witness the weighing of the largest watermelons around!
Activities:
More than 100 vehicles are expected for the car and truck show on Saturday morning, and additional activities include a 5K run and 1-mile fun run, character guests to entertain the children, and live music.
Pack your sunscreen and lawn chair.
Schedule of Events:
Friday August 14, 2026
6:00 p.m. – Festival Begins
6:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Main Stage | National Anthem: Joseph Baldwin
7:00 p.m. – Joseph Baldwin
8:30 p.m. – Maggie Baugh
Saturday, August 15, 2026
7:30 a.m. | Watermelon 5K & Fun Run
10:00 a.m. | Festival Begins
10:00 a.m. – noon | Character Guests @ Valley State Bank
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Watermelon in the Park | Cutting & Contests
5:30 p.m. | Brody Nix
6:00 p.m. | Tremayne
7:00 p.m. | Rewind
8:30 p.m. | Tracy Byrd
Where:
Downtown Russellville
103 N. Jackson Ave.
Russellville, AL
For additional information:
Visit the Franklin County Chamber website or Facebook page.
