We arrived at the Watermelon Festival in Russellville a little before 6:00 P.M.
We parked on the street behind the main street and walked one block to enter the Watermelon Festival.
As we walked up Main Street, we saw Daddy's Roasted Sweet Corn, which was positioned near the Roxy Theater.
Posted on the marquee was "Welcome to the 36th Annual Watermelon Festival."
Main Street was crowded with vendors on both sides, and many people were buying their wares. It was a struggle just to walk up the street because it was so crowded.
A little breeze was blowing, but not enough to take away the humidity. The sky was filled with dark, heavy clouds, ready to burst into rain.
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| We could hear the Kerry Gilbert Band beginning to play. |
When we arrived in the band area, the sun was beaming down right into my eyes, so we had to find a shaded area where we could watch the band.
We had brought chairs to sit in, but left them in the van, so we ended up sitting on the concrete curb near the tables filled with juicy, red slices of watermelon, free for the taking.
We sat and watched the band play while the watermelons behind me said, "Come get a slice."
So, I walked to the table full of sliced melons and picked out a slice, making sure I had plenty of napkins.
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| Free slices of red juicy watermelons! Make sure you grab enough paper towels! |
I savored every bite until nothing was left but the rind.
I found only a few seeds in the watermelon slice, which I spat onto the ground. I found a garbage can to dispose of the rind, and I wiped my face and hands of all that red, sweet juice from the melon.
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| Slices of the red juicy watermelon were going fast. |
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| Kerry encouraged the crowd to clap. |
Kerry, Hugh Banks, Terry Frank, Randy Kimbrough, Alyssa Ashley, Mitch Curtis, and Wendell Dean performed an a cappella of the gospel song "Sweet Sweet Spirit."
Alyssa Ashley and Mitch Curtis performed a Dotty West Song, Two Worlds Collide.
Several women and a man got up and danced, while others clapped and stomped their feet to the music.
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| SWEET TREE Productions controlled the sound system and provided the stage for the bands. |
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| Fresh Squeezed Lemonade YUM!!! |
We saw Corn Dogs, Chicken tenders, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, French Fries, Ribbon Fries, Philly Cheese sticks, Polish Sausages, and Funnel Cakes.
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We saw on the Roxy Theater Marquees facing down Main Street: Whiskey Tree Guest Kendra Hope, Travis Wammack, and Snake Band Saturday, August 27, 6:30 P.M.
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| We saw Captain Marvel and Spiderman. |
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| We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. |
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| We saw Protect and Serve Police Officers. |
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| We saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse, along with children, getting their pictures taken with them. |
We walked to the carnival rides where we saw Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing House. We saw children buckled into the Reckless ride. We saw children loading into Pirates Revenge Ride.
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| Swings, Mind Winder |
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| Monster Truck |
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| Reckless and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy's Bouncing house |
The last ride we saw was the Mind Winder.
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| Standing in Silence, the Festival Festivals 36 years, is this Historic Home.e |
On the right was a red-brick house with two chimneys. To the left was a white siding three-story home with a red slate, a triangular roof, a rounded dome room on the third level, and a covered front porch.
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| We started back up the street where we saw a young boy riding the bull; he stayed on for 48 seconds. As we walked past, I said to myself, not me, that bull can buck someone else off. |
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| I ain't afraid of no GHOST! |
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| As we walked up Main Street, we saw a Ghostbuster. Not yet dark enough for any ghosts. Yet there may be ghosts lurking in the two houses just beyond the festival, or Festivalwalking among us! |
