Watermelons have long been a calling card for the City of Hope.

The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts & crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as locally grown smoked chicken and golden fried catfish. What else can you do at the festival? You can participate in a 5 k race, participate in Watermelon Olympics, enter the "Watermelon Idol" talent contest, browse the car show, and have a blast in the Kidz Zone.

This year’s theme: Rockin’ It To The Rind!

Schedule:
Thursday, August 11, 2022
12:00pm: Festival Ribbon Cutting & Pageant Winner Introduction, Coliseum

12:00pm: Festival Opens
Vendors/Exhibitors-Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion
Concessions, Outdoor
GellyBall

1:00pm-6:00pm: LifeShare Blood Drive

4:30pm-7:00pm: Kiwanis BBQ Chicken Supper, Community Center

5:00pm: Watermelon by the Slice Opens, Big Tent

12:00pm: Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens

6:00pm: Watermelon Contest Weigh-in, Coliseum

6:00pm: Jr. Watermelon Olympics, in front of Cricket Wireless Stage

6:30pm: Watermelon Olympics, meet at Cricket Wireless Stage
City of Hope Parks & Recreation

6:00pm-8:00pm: Rafter J Living Proof Band, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

Friday, August 12, 2022
9:00am: Festival Opens
Vendors/Exhibitors, Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion
GellyBall

10:00am: Concessions, Outdoor

9:00am: Kidz Zone Opens, Bobcat Freight Kidz Zone Area
Inflatable Ax Throwing & Obstacle Course
Pony Rides
Camel Rides
Petting Zoo

10:00am: Watermelon by the Slice Opens, Big Tent

11:00am: Piano Man Jack, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

12:00pm-6:00pm: LifeShare Blood Drive

3:00pm: Carl Jackson, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

4:30pm-7:00pm: Lion’s Club Fish Fry, Community Center

6:00pm: Washington Vintage Dancers, in front of coliseum

6:00pm: Cornhole Tournament, Legion Field

6:30pm: Arnetta Bradford, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

7:00pm: South Down Main, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

7:00pm: Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament Begins, Kelly Fields
Hope Parks & Recreation

Saturday, August 13, 2022
7:30am: Watermelon 5K & Melon Mile, front gate
Don Still (870)397-1236

Click here for Registration

8:00am: Fishing Derby, Huckabee Lake
City of Hope Parks & Rec

8:00am: Civitan Car Show, Behind Cricket Wireless Stage

9:00am: Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens
Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374

9:00am: Festival Opens
Vendors/Exhibitors, Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion
GellyBall

10:00am: Concessions, Outdoor

9:00am: Kidz Zone Opens, Bobcat Freight Kidz Zone Area
Inflatable Ax Throwing & Obstacle Course
Pony Rides
Camel Rides
Petting Zoo

9:00am: Character Meet & Greet, Cricket Wireless Stage
Queen Bee LOL, Buzz Lightyear, Tik Tok Mascot

10:00am-12:00pm: SpongeBob Meet & Greet, Bobcat Freight Kidz Zone
Hope-Prescott Cable TV

10:00am: Money in the Haystack, Bobcat Freight Kidz Zone

10:00am: Watermelon Waddle Duck Races, Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

10:00am: Watermelon by the Slice Opens, Big Tent

11:00am: Hope Piranhas Swim Team Exhibition, Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

11:00am: Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest, Cricket Wireless Stage
Hosted by UAHT

11:30am: Watermelon Auction, Big Tent

12:00pm: Watermelon Eating Contest, Cricket Wireless Stage
All Ages

12:00pm: Southwest Arkansas Taekwondo Demonstration, Farmer’s Bank & Trust Stage

12:00pm-6:00pm: LifeShare Blood Drive

1:30pm: Seed Spitting Competition, Cricket Wireless Stage
Dave Phillips, Chairman

3:30pm: Southern Soul Showband, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

4:00pm: Watermelon Idol, Legion Field
Hosted by UAHT

5:00pm: Nighthawk Band, Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

8:30pm: Uncle Kracker, CMC Steel Products Stage
6:00pm: Gates Open

7:30pm: Brady Rhodes

Date: August 11 - 13, 2022

Hours:
Thursday: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Friday: 9:00am-8:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-8:00pm or until concert ends!

Location: Hope Fair Park  - 800 Mockingbird Ln Hope, AR 71801

Click here for more information