Cave City Watermelon Festival returns with free enjoyable and loads of candy Arkansas melons

CAVE CITY, Ark. (KATV) — If your summer season plans might use a bit of additional sweetness, Cave City has you lined.

The Cave City Watermelon Festival is again with free leisure, group occasions and loads of Arkansas watermelon, together with purple, yellow and seedless varieties that organizers proudly name “our world’s sweetest watermelon.”

Amy Finster, committee chair of the Cave City Watermelon Festival, mentioned town is able to welcome guests after a tough 12 months.

“All of our businesses have pretty much rebuilt, and we are ready to welcome everyone with open arms,” Finster mentioned.

The competition options a number of nights of free leisure, together with the Sweetest Voice contest, described because the competition’s model of “American Idol”, occurring Thursday and Friday. Finster mentioned the music lineup additionally consists of Confederate Railroad on Friday and Sammy Kershaw on Saturday.

Beyond the stage, households can anticipate carnival rides, youngsters actions, meals distributors and craft distributors.

Cave City’s watermelon repute, Finster mentioned, comes right down to native rising situations.

“We have really sandy soil in Cave City, and we have really hot, dry summers, and so that really makes the watermelons thrive, and that’s how we get them so sweet,” she mentioned.

Finster additionally highlighted a number of varieties festivalgoers may see, together with “720s,” a “blackjack” and seedless choices. She mentioned the yellow-fleshed melons are simply as candy as the normal purple ones.

“But yes, they are just as sweet,” Finster mentioned. “I believe if you were blindfolded, you would not know the difference between a yellow and a red.”

The competition additionally helps native meals pantries by a watermelon public sale. Finster mentioned farmers donate prized watermelons marked with ribbons, and people are auctioned off Saturday at 5 p.m., with proceeds going to native meals pantries. She mentioned donations are additionally accepted online by a donate button.

Finster mentioned the competition is some extent of delight for the city, and a giant raise for a small group.

“Having this festival and having 1000s come into a town of just 2,000 with one stoplight, it can sometimes be a challenge,” she mentioned. “But we love welcoming everyone into our town, and it means a lot for us because it helps our businesses thrive, and it also just showcases everything we have to offer, so people can come back.”

The competition begins Thursday at 5 p.m. the twenty third and runs by Saturday, the twenty fifth. A full schedule is out there online, and Finster encourage individuals to observe the competition’s Facebook web page for dwell updates.

And for anybody who likes their watermelon with a twist: Finster mentioned an area restaurant, the Gypsy Willow, plans to serve fried watermelon on Friday.

“I have never had that, so I’m looking forward to trying that myself,” she mentioned.