The 26^th annual What-A-Melon Festival sponsored by the Center Rotary Club kicked off its activities with the official cutting of the melon during a ceremony yesterday in downtown Center.

The festival includes vendor booths and carnival rides. Festival gates open at 3 p.m. this afternoon with sign up of for the pet show at 5:30. Local entertainment will also take the stage at that time. The festival closes at 10 p.m. tonight.

Saturday's events begin with the What-A-Melon Crawl 5K Run and Walk starting at 7 a.m. with carnival rides opening at 3, followed by the seed spitting and speed eating at 4 p.m., and a highlight event of the festival, the What-A-Melon weigh-in at 5. The pageant begins at 6 p.m. The What-A-Melon Festival shuts down at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Admission to the What-A-Melon Festival is a one-time fee of $4 for a button, and free for kids 5 and under. Also, the carnival armbands are $20 for all-u-can ride tonight, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., and Saturday night from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.