CORDELE —  The 65^th Annual Watermelon Festival is in full swing in Cordele-Crisp County, the Watermelon Capital of the World”. The dates of the festival are now through June 28 with June 28 being the main day of the festival. This is also the day of the parade, arts and crafts show, entertainment, seed spit, sweet melon contest, 4-H watermelon slice give-a-away, chunking contest, replant with Home Depot, antique tractor and equipment display, classic car & truck display, eating contest, and the finale is the Watermelon Days Dance with “MainStream” band playing from 8 p.m.-midnight.

 

The Watermelon Days Festival is the oldest festival in the state of Georgia and offers over 30 activities during the month-long celebration of the fruit, which has made Cordele-Crisp so famous. The festival is held to honor the farmers, growers, brokers and buyers, which have a huge economic impact to Cordele-Crisp County. This is a family and friends festival with something for everyone!

The title “Watermelon Capital of the World” was challenged in the early ‘90s by

Hope, Arkansas, and Hempstead, Texas. The competition was tough, but Cordele-Crisp County proudly retained the title. The local melons were judged as the crispiest, juiciest, and sweetest. This is due to the hot, dry nights and the type of soil in Crisp County. Over 200 million pounds of melons are grown and shipped from the community each year. The watermelon festival and watermelon industry are a tremendous economic engine for our community.

For more information on the festival call the Cordele-Crisp Chamber 229-273-1668, email

info@cordele-crisp-chamber.com, go to our web site www.cordelecrispga.com

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