HEMPSTEAD WATERMELON FESTIVAL KICKS OFF FRIDAY NIGHT
The 31st Annual Watermelon Festival begins tonight (Friday) in downtown Hempstead.
The two-day festival will feature live music, barbecue cook-offs, a classic car show, a queen’s coronation, a watermelon growing contest and a parade.
Robert Smith, a promoter of the festival, says the event showcases everything Hempstead.
The fun gets underway this evening with a kid’s barbecue cook-off at 6:30 p.m. and a street dance with the Brown Sugar Band at 8 p.m.
Activities continue tomorrow (Saturday) with a car show leading up to the parade at 9:30 a.m., lining up on San Antonio Street and ending at the gazebo in downtown Hempstead.
Check-in for the watermelon contest begins at 10 a.m., with watermelon games beginning at 1 p.m.
The Watermelon Queen’s Coronation will take place at 11 a.m., followed by a performance from the Pee Wee Bowen Band and a show from The Ole West Gunfighters at noon.
Barbecue cook-off awards will be presented at 4 p.m. Watermelon and quilt auctions will be held at 5 p.m.
The festival will conclude with performances from Matt Menke and the Cosmic Cowboys at 7:30 p.m. and Glen Templeton at 9:30 p.m.
To learn more, visit www.hempsteadwatermelonfestival.com, or go to the Hempstead Watermelon Festival Facebook page.
KTEX-106’s Tracey Lawless and Trail Boss Troy will both be at the parade tomorrow morning, broadcasting live from the KTEX Country Cruiser.