It’s What-A-Melon Festival week in Shelby County and the Center Rotary Club is sponsoring the event in downtown Center July 9-11.

 

The three day event will feature carnival rides, vendor booths, a pet show, a pageant, 5K What-A-Melon Crawl, live entertainment, and lots of great fun!

 

The festival gets underway Thursday with the opening ceremony, or official watermelon cutting by local dignitaries at 5 p.m. The carnival rides and vendors will be open at that time until 10 p.m.

 

Arm bands are available for each night of the festival for $20, and can be purchased Thursday & Friday from 5:30 p.m. till 10 p.m. and Saturday, 5:30 till 10:30 p.m.

 

What-A-Melon Festival gates open at 3 p.m. Friday, with local entertainment at 5:30 p.m. and the pet show at 6 p.m.

 

Saturday begins with the What-A-Melon 5K/Walk at 7 a.m. and the rides and vendors opening at 3 p.m. Several crowd favorites begin at 4 p.m. with the seed spitting and speed eating contest, followed by the largest watermelon weigh-in at 5 p.m. and the What-A-Melon pageant at 6 p.m. Saturday.

 

What-A-Melon Festival entry buttons will be available at the festival entry gates on Thursday evening. Buttons are $4 and are good for entry to the festival for all three days. Children five and under get in free.

 

By the way, you can still register for the What-A-Melon 5K/Walk. Each year Center Rotary Club donates a major portion of the events funds to a local non-profit organization. This year’s funds go to Shelby County Outreach Ministries.

 

The 5K/Walk will be held on the Center Square, with the fun run at 7 a.m. and the 5K at 7:30 a.m. Both events are for people of all ages. You can walk or run either event. Strollers are acceptable.

 

Registration forms are available at Shelby Savings Bank, All Hours Fitness and Shelby County Outreach Ministries. You can also register at onestoprace.com.