Shelby County watermelon growers are invited to bring their largest watermelon to the 30th Annual East Texas What-A-Melon Festival on the downtown Center square. The festival is July 11th, 12th, and 13th!

 

Last year was a good year for watermelons in Shelby County with twenty-two watermelon entries of which nineteen tipped the scales over 100 pounds! The first place melon grown by Olivia Johnson weighed 152 lbs and won the $2,500 grand prize.

 

Whose melon will weigh in as the largest of the festival this year and leave with the big bucks? The weigh in is Thursday, July 11th at 6pm. The winning melon will be on display for the duration of the festival for visitors to see and for photo opportunities.

 

Entry deadline is Monday, June 24th. Melons must be grown in Shelby County and all entries will be marked while attached to the vine by festival judges. Entry forms can be picked up at Boles Feed in Center or at Brookshire Brothers on Hurst Street in Center. Entries can be dropped off at Brookshire Brothers on Hurst Street in Center or can be mailed to Chandra Atholi, 301 Wulf Creek Drive, Center, Texas 75935 or faxed to 936-598-5032.

 

The What-A-Melon Festival is hosted by the Center Rotary Club.

 

Be a Participant in the 2019 What-A-Melon Festival Pageant

Don't miss out on the 2019 What-A-Melon Festival Pageant! Boys ages 0-5 and girls ages 0-19 will wear their favorite summer or watermelon attire on the stage under the big tent Saturday, July 13th during the festival on the downtown square in Center.

 

Wiggins Watermelons will be giving 2 Cash Scholarships for $250 each to the highest scores in 0-5 and 6-19 years.

 

Age divisions are: Baby 0-11 months; Toddler 12-23 months; Tiny 2-3 years; Little 4-5 years; Petite 6-8 years; Pre-teen 9-12 years; Teen 13-15 years; Miss 16-19 years; and Mister boys 0-5 years.

 

The deadline for entry is Friday, July 5. The deadline will not be extended. The pageant is Saturday, July 13th with registration at 5pm and showtime at 5:30pm. Pageant will be held under the big tent on the downtown square during the What-A-Melon Festival.

 

All contestants will receive a rhinestone crown. This is a natural beauty pageant, so only age appropriate makeup.

 

Entry forms can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office or Shelby County Today office. For more information, email Denetra Slaughter at denetra329@gmail.com or call J.J. at 936-591-9334. Forms and entry fees can be mailed to P.O. Box 64, Center, Texas 75935 or dropped off at Shelby County Today office, 202 Field Street, Center, Texas 75935.

What-A-Melon Festival T-Shirts are Ready!

 

The 2019 What-A-Melon Festival t-shirts have arrived and are available for purchase at Shelby Savings Bank main branch, Farmers State Bank main branch and the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce office. All shirts are $15 each.

 

The What-A-Melon Festival starts Thursday, July 11th with opening ceremonies at 5pm and the Largest Watermelon contest weighing in at 5:30pm. The festival runs through Saturday, July 13th.

 

Hollie Adams, President of the Rotary Club of Center, revealed the winner of the 2019 What-A-Melon Festival logo contest to be Edwin Morin, a 2019 Graduate of Center High School. It's his design for the 30th Annual East Texas What-a-Melon Festival which incorporated the Rotary wheel in the design and is now displayed on all the festival t-shirts!