This year’s theme: Homegrown Happiness!

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

Schedule Of Events:

Monday, August 5,2024

Start Time: 6:00 PM
Line Up Time: 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Last years pageant winners to grand marshal this years parade!
All pageant contestants and local businesses are encouraged to participate!
Line up Location: Brazzel-Oakcrest at 1001 S Main
There will be awards for most festive floats!
Click here to register

Thursday, August 8,2024

12:00pm-Watermelon Festival Ribbon Cutting 2024 Watermelon Pageant Winners - Coliseum
12:00pm - Festival Opens
- Vendors: Outdoor-Coliseum-Horticulture Building-Covered Pavilion
- Concessions: Outdoor
12:00pm - River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone Opens
- GellyBall
- Sno Cones
12:00pm - Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374
12:00pm - Beautiful Baby Contest Display - Coliseum
4:30pm-7:00pm - Kiwanis Pulled Pork Dinner - Community Center
12:00pm - Watermelon by the Slice Open - Big tent
6:00pm - Watermelon Olympics, City of Hope Parks and Recreation - meet at Legion Field
6:00pm - Rafter J Living Proof Band - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
7:00pm - Dog Show, City of Hope Animal Shelter-Hope for Paws - Hebrews 11:1 Stage

Friday, August 9,2024

Festival Opens
9:00am - Vendors: Outdoor-Coliseum-Horticulture Building-Covered Pavilion
10:00am - Concessions: Outdoor
9:00am - River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone Opens
- Inflatables
- GellyBall
- Pony Rides
- Camel Rides
- AR Game and Fish Mobile Aquarium
- Sno Cones
9:00am - Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374
10:00am - Watermelon by the Slice Opens - Big tent
11:00am-4:30pm - LifeShare Blood Drive
3:00pm - Carl Jackson - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
4:30pm-7:00pm - Lion’s Club Fish Fry - Community Center
6:00pm - Melon Jams Open Mic Night - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
6:00pm - Washington Vintage Dancers - in front of coliseum
6:00pm - Cornhole Tournament, City of Hope Parks and Recreation - Legion Field
Contact the Fair Park Office 870-777-7500 for more info.
7:00pm - Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament Begins, City of Hope Parks and Recreation - Kelly Fields

Saturday,August 10,2024

7:30am - Watermelon 5K, Don Still (870)397-1236 - Hope Fair Park front Gate
Buy tickets
8:30am - Melon Mile, Don Still (870)397-1236 - Hope Fair Park front gate
8:00am - Civitan Car Show - Behind Hebrews 11:1 Stage
Click here to register
Festival Opens
9:00am - Vendors: Outdoor-Coliseum-Horticulture Building-Covered Pavilion
10:00am - Concessions: Outdoor
9:00am - River Vally Tractor Kidz Zone Opens
- Inflatables
- GellyBall
- Pony Rides
- Camel Rides
- AR Game and Fish Mobile Aquarium
- Sno Cones
9:00am - Fishing Derby, City of Hope Parks and Recreation - Huckabee Lake
9:00am - Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374    
9:00am - Rusty Relics Antique Tractor Club, Roger White (870)451-2096
9:00am - Danctastics Dance Studio - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
9:30am - Money in the Haystack, Sponsored by Heather Doucet State Farm Insurance - River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone
10:00am - Watermelon by the Slice Opens - Big Tent
10:00am - Junior Watermelon Olympics, Sponsored by Hempstead County Farm Bureau - River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone
10:00am - Watermelon Waddle Duck Races, Hope Piranhas Swim Team - Hope Fair Park Swimming pool
11:00am - Hope Piranhas Swim Team Exhibition - Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool
11:00am - Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest, Hosted by UAHT - Hebrews 11:1 Stage
12:00pm - Watermelon Eating Contest for all ages - Hebrews 11:1 Stage
11:30am-4:30pm - LifeShare Blood Drive
1:30pm - Seed Spitting Competition - Hebrews 1:1 Stage
3:00pm - Watermelon Idol Preliminaries, Hosted by Arnetta Bradford - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
Click here to register
5:00pm - Nighthawk Band - Farmers Bank and Trust Stage
8:30pm - Rodney Atkins, Legion Field
6:00pm - Gates open
7:00pm - Lil Skinny
2024 Watermelon Idol 8:00pm

Date: August 5,8 - 10, 2024

Location: Various Venues in Hope, AR 71801

Click Here For More Information