It’s that time of year again! The 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival—affectionately dubbed “Melonpalooza”—returns to Hope Fair Park from Thursday, August 7 through Saturday, August 9, 2025. This beloved hometown tradition promises three days full of food, fun, music, and melons with something for every age and interest.
With three outdoor entertainment stages, the ever-popular Kidz Zone, contests, classic cars, open mic nights, watermelon-themed Olympics, and a Saturday night concert you won’t want to miss, the Hope Watermelon Festival continues to be one of the biggest and sweetest celebrations in the region.
Festival Hours:
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Thursday, August 7: 12 PM – 9 PM
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Friday, August 8: 9 AM – 9 PM
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Saturday, August 9: 9 AM – 9 PM
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS & SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 7 – Opening Day
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12 PM: Ribbon Cutting with Pageant Winners
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12 PM: Festival Grounds Open (Kidz Zone, Rusty Wheels Engine Show, Watermelon by the Slice, Beautiful Baby Display)
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12 PM – 4:30 PM: Blood Drive
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4:30 – 7 PM: Hope Kiwanis Pulled Pork Supper (Fair Park Community Center)
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6 PM: Watermelon Olympics (Legion Field)
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6 – 8 PM: Living Proof Band on stage
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7 PM: Dog Show (TBD Stage)
Friday, August 8 – Melon Mayhem Night
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All Day: Festival, Kidz Zone, Rusty Wheels Engine Show, Arts & Crafts
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10 AM: Watermelon by the Slice
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11:30 AM – 4 PM: Blood Drive
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2 PM: Carl Jackson performs
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4 PM: Hometown Strangers perform
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4:30 – 7 PM: Lion’s Club Fish Fry
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6 PM:
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Melon Mayhem Wrestling
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Melon Jams Open Mic Night
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Washington Vintage Dancers
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Cornhole Tournament
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7 PM: Watermelon Softball Tournament Begins
Saturday, August 9 – The Big Finale
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7:30 AM: Watermelon 5K
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8:00 AM: Melon Mile & Civitan Car Show
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9:00 AM: Festival Opens
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9:00 AM: Kidz Zone, Rusty Wheels Engine Show, Rusty Relics Tractor Club, Fishing Derby on Huckabee Lake
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9:30 AM: Money in the Haystack
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10:00 AM:
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Watermelon by the Slice
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Junior Watermelon Olympics
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Watermelon Waddle Duck Races
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11:00 AM: Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest
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12:00 PM: Watermelon Eating Contest (all ages)
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11:30 AM – 4 PM: Blood Drive
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1:00 PM: Junior Watermelon Idol (Farmers Bank & Trust Stage)
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1:30 PM: Seed Spitting Competition
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3:00 PM: Watermelon Idol Contest
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5:00 PM: Nighthawk Band takes the stage
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6:00 PM: Gates open for the big concert
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6:30 PM: Watermelon Idol Finalists Perform
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7:00 PM: Buzz Andrews Band
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8:00 PM: 🎸 Headliner Concert – The Lead Singers of Classic Rock
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Featuring Jason Scheff (former lead singer of Chicago)
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And Tommy DeCarlo (former lead singer of Boston)
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This powerhouse show caps off the festival with the biggest rock performance in Hope since the Doobie Brothers took the stage years ago.
More Festival Fun
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Watermelon Olympics: Register your team (8 members, 2 must be female) by August 6 by calling 870-777-7500.
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Kidz Zone Attractions: Camel rides, inflatables, bungee trampoline, jelly ball, and more!
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Civic Club Dinners: Pulled pork, fried catfish, and other Southern favorites.
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Contests: Eating, seed spitting, duck races, and a costume dog show!
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Shopping: Browse boutique and craft vendor booths filled with unique local goods.
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Fishing Derby, Cornhole, Softball & Car Show – Family-friendly and competitive fun all weekend long.
Concert Tickets
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$25 Advance | $30 Day-of | $10 Children | $45 Reserved Seating
Visit www.hopemelonfest.com for tickets, vendor info, and updates.
For the most up-to-date information, follow the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival on Facebook, or contact the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at 870-777-3640 or email hopechamberdirector@gmail.com.
Mark your calendars and bring the whole family—it’s time to celebrate Melonpalooza in Hope, Arkansas!
