The Watermelon Days Festival, the oldest festival in Georgia, is held annually in June and includes events for the whole family.

The Watermelon Days Festival offers over thirty activities, with something for everyone, during the celebration of our favorite fruit, which has made us so famous. We hold the festival to honor the farmers, growers, brokers, and buyers because our watermelon industry is a tremendous economic engine for our community.

Our 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 proved that we truly have the best melons anywhere in the WORLD and proudly retained our title. Our melons were deemed as the crispest, 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 our community each year.

We hope you will come and check out our CRISP slice of life!

Schedule

May 20, 2023

6:00pm: Watermelon Capital Queen Pageant - Cnsp County Middle School Auditonum Sponsor Kristen Smith 229-322-7001 - Ages 0-24

June 3, 2023

8:0Qam - 10:00am: Billy Williams Memorial Kiwanis Fishing Rodeo at Buford Pond on Kelly Road

13th National Glider Competition at Crisp County Airport

June 3rd. 4th. 10th. 11th. 17th and 18th S$ Day Out with Thomas at Georgia Veterans Depot

June 8, 2023

6:30pm: Kiwanis Club Talent Showcase at Crisp County High School Cafetorium

June 10, 2023

Watermelon Classic Races at Crisp Motorsports

June 12, 2023

10:00am: WALB Noon Show (Filmed) Will Air June 22nd at 12:30pm at Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club

June 15, 2023

6:30pm: This Is Your Life-Al Shauf at Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club

June 16, 2023

9:00am: Crisp County 4-H Dog Show at Community Clubhouse Pre-registratton required by June 13th

June 20 - 23, 2023

11:00am Daily Reading with the Queens at Cordele Carnegie Library

June 23, 2023

7:30am: Watermelon Walk at Perry G. Busbee Walking Track

8:00pm: Live Entertainment at Cypress Grill

June 24, 2023

9:00am: Watermelon Festival Parade - Route: 15th Avenue from 6th St - Owens St Cordele-Cnsp Chamber and Cordele Lions Club Line up 8.00am at Southgate Shopping Ctr

9:00am- 5:00pm: Watermelon Days Arts, Crafts and Food Vendors at Georgia Veterans State Park

10:00am - 5:00pm: Watermelon Days Entertainment at Georgia Veterans State Park

10:00am - 2:00pm: Watermelon Days Car and Truck Display at Georgia Veterans State Park

10:00am - 2:00pm: Crisp County 4-H Watermelon Slice Giveaway at Georgia Veterans State Park

10:00am, 11 30am, 1:00pm and 2:30Pm: Watermelon Express (1 hour long train rides) at Georgia Veterans Depot Sponsor: Hisloric SAM Shortline Excursion Train 229-276-0755

11:30am: Jr. Watermelon Eating Contest at Georgia Veterans State Park

1:00pm Watermelon Chunking Contest at Georgia Veterans State Park

2:00pm: Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest at Georgia Veterans State Park

8:00pm: Live Entertainment at Cypress Grill 229-276-1004 - JHlY 3rd 9:30pm, Fireworks on the Flint - (Food Trucks will be on site) at Georgia Veterans State Park

Date:

May 20 - June 24, 2023

Locations:

Various Venues, Cordele, GA 31015

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