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A volunteer cuts through a locally grown watermelon at the 2016 Rush Springs Watermelon Festival. Hundreds of pounds of watermelon are consumed under the awnings at Jeff Davis Park. HMG file photo
RUSH SPRINGS – The great tradition of the annual Watermelon Festival is upon us again, this Saturday, Aug. 13th at Jeff Davis Park.
This festival – which has taken place since 1948, and attracts thousands of festivalgoers each year – celebrates the rush of local, seasonal watermelons with watermelon-themed activities, carnival rides and family-friendly entertainment.
“The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival is consistently rated one of the best summer events in Oklahoma,” said Rush Springs native Joe Dorman, a former state representative. “This town of 1,200 residents consistently hosts more than 30,000 visitors on the one-day event, annually held the second Saturday of August.”
Dorman said the Rush Springs Lions Club serves as the hosts of the festival “and many current and former townspeople make it happen.”
Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a Tiny Tots contest, entertainment by Autumn Coleman and Aaron Chestnut and Trinity Horton. This will be followed at noon with the coronation of the Watermelon Queen by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell.
More entertainment on Saturday afternoon includes a watermelon seed-spitting contest; Elvis tribute artist Brian Lee Dunning; Victory Fellowship Praise Band; an auction for the prize watermelons; and featured entertainment by Von Hawks Rising.
The festival will conclude at 6:30 p.m. with closing remarks by 2022 Watermelon Queen Taylor Abbott.
Don’t miss the arts and crafts show; car show and the Rush Springs Rodeo, which is held at Rusty Acres Arena north of town on Aug. 11 and 12.
For more details, go to Facebook.com/rushspringswatermelonfestival/.