The Cave City Watermelon Festival, on which Julie serves with a committee since 2015, will be held at the Cave City Park July 28-30. Over the years, various attempts have been made to explore the cave and to determine the origins of the Crystal River which flows under the town of Cave City. History lovers will enjoy driving past these historic homes. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. The first step of this epic watermelon road trip is to select a registered grower and make certain that they have melons available. The Cave City Watermelon Festival will take place July 26-28 at the Cave City city park. Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. New foods, new places, new experiences. This three-day event will be held July 28-30th and will include entertainment, fun vendors, yummy food trucks, a parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, which is courtesy of the watermelon growers in the area. This is a skillset that has been continually improved upon by the Johnsons since the 1920s. Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event. KAIT Region 8 News: There will soon be a new monument in Cave City to honor the town's veterans."We've actually been talking about it for several years off and on," Mayor Jonas Anderson said. Phillip - 870-307-9632 Gary - 870-283-2854 Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. (Courtesy Joshua Fitzwater) "That was neat,". Laman Bros. General Store (Photo from the Gary Perkey collection.). (KAIT) -Watermelons are almost ripe for picking for the annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. Julie Johnson, the committee member of the Watermelon Festival, said she is excited, but nervous as she has seen the increase in COVID cases statewide. Flickr/kitchener.lord. "Business is very . We may earn a commission from links on this page. The watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce the festival watermelons and proudly stand behind every melon they sell. The cave at Cave City served as a source of pride for the community for many years, and the Cave Courts housed many tourists who traveled through that area of Northeast Arkansas. Activities include a childrens fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed spitting contest, free watermelon feast, prize melon auction, incredible food, kids wet zone, and live music. GREEN RIVER, UTAH - The tiny town of Green River (population 929) may not be big, but it is home to the "World's Largest Watermelon." An original postcard of the Crystal River Cave Camp as it appeared in the 1930s. To contact our registered growers, check:. 167. Gary said, During this time, they were going more for commercial production for selling them to large cities like Chicago. At that time growers rented stalls in a facility near the present day community center. . She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. From July 29-31, hundreds of people will flock to Cave City to attend the festival for the first time in over a year. As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. At the time, Phillip was 13. Perkey Farms is a family owned and operating watermelon farm. To contact our registered growers,. The fact is, growers begin working to bring the melons to the area months before with preparations long before the plants even go into the green-houses and eventually into the earth where they will grow. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. Whether they are from Cave City or not, the . Phillip laughed recalling a story his mother told, They got married on March 30 and were in the watermelon fields on April 1. Their parents harvested melons until 1976 when Lester became ill. At the peak of watermelon production during the 1960s, the growers association that was established in 1938 had 127 members with over 1000 acres of melons planted. Pittsburgh is out here proving that it might be the city with the best sense of humor, mounting the Picklesburgh festival annually in partnership with Pennsylvania-based Heinz. If it doesnt have the sticker, its not an official Cave City watermelon. The Cave City Watermelon Festival slated for July 29 through 31 is quickly approaching. For Wooldridge, its not his first rodeo. Weve worked, it seems like, even harder than normal to make sure we have a great festival this year Everythings in place and were ready to have a festival. We appreciate the volunteer work already underway around town to prepare for the festival, Cave City Mayor Jonas Anderson said. This three-day event will include entertainment, a 5K run, pancake breakfast, parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, courtesy of the registered watermelon growers. CAVE CITY, Ark. Haley Adams enjoys a big slice of watermelon at the 2007 Cave City Watermelon Festival. One bite into one of these sweet, juicy melons makes it worth the trip. One of the earliest churches was the Flat Rock Methodist Church, established in 1858. It is something you are going to enjoy. The plants will have established a root ball in about five or six weeks, and are solid enough to be transplanted. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas. Grower Brian Carter can trace that blood back to his great, great grandfather who hauled melons from Sandtown by wagon to sell in Batesville in the early 1900s. Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs Cave City, Arkansas KAIT Region 8 News: It doesn't quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! To contact our registered growers, check:. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. Filed Under . After the plant sets the melon, or blooms, it is ready to harvest in 30-35 days. CAVE CITY, Ark. "Whenever people buy the watermelon, they need to make sure it has the registered trademark sticker, because if it doesn't, it's not the real . The seeds are started in the greenhouse in March. Phillip Johnson and his brother have been farming watermelons over 40 years. Johnson says theyve seen more people at their stand and more people in the city in preparation for melon season and the festival. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. They carry a little bit of everything from toys to farm supplies, hunting gear and more. Tim Carter: I am a 4th generation watermelon farmer I cannot remember not being around watermelon farming. Cave City growers just want you to know, it's important to look for the sticker. Prior to that, Phillip said, We just trusted in the Lord and the weather. Rainfall or lack thereof is detrimental to the production of watermelons. Brothers Jonathan and Justin Hunter are the newest and youngest registered Cave City Watermelon Growers. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. In the early 1890s, what was apparently the second church established in town was the Methodist Episcopal (or North Methodist) Church. A cross-section of the Crookneck heirloom watermelon, an indigenous watermelon whose seeds were recovered from an abandoned cave in Arizona. Ellis and Ernest Landers had the largest acreage planted in watermelons --- 45 acres. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. The 42nd annual Cave City Watermelon Festival is slated to begin Thursday (July 28) and run through Saturday (July 30). Heritage Bake Shoppe If you are looking for flavorful baked goods and deli sandwiches piled high with meat, cheese and all the toppings, swing by the Heritage Bake Shoppe. Most recognize Gary and Phillip as the Watermelon Men, but in reality, Johnsons melon production began long before the two men were even a thought. Other students moved into town and boarded with family, friends, or in boarding houses which were made available to entice more students to the school. The Cave City Watermelon Festival gets underway Thursday. Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. More than 9 million gallons of water flow from it each hour filling a 10-acre lake and flowing into the Spring River. Watermelon is synonymous with Cave City, and while folks in my neck of the woods go bonkers when a pickup truck with a bed-full of [], Your email address will not be published. 7 - The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Gary recalled one incident where a broker offered his grandfather a few cents less per pound than he desired. The event has shrunk from 10 days down to just three this year (July 7-9), but thats plenty of time to eat your fill of local food. This will mark the festival's 30th year. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Every eating event you need to know about, month by month. Held in the Cherry Capital of the WorldTraverse City, Michigan, that isthe National Cherry Festival runs for the entire week of July 1-8, a testament to just how celebrated this stone fruit is among locals and tourists alike (We are thrilled to put cherries on the top of everyones mind, reads the official website). Right now, everything is on track for the festival to start Thursday. Live musicians such as Luke Stroud, the Farris Family Quartet, Legacy Five, Shane Thornton, and others will perform Thursday and Friday. Taking the stage at 6 p.m. is The Ellis Family, followed by Believers Worship Group at 7 p.m. and the Jordan Family Band at 8 p.m. Friday activities begin at 8 a.m. and last all day. The festival struck Gold, outshining all the other entries in the Best Video Promotion (Budget under $100,000) division. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Julie loves adventure. It wasnt always successful, but with each step, they learned and improved or changed their growing methods. Julie Kohl works from home as a writer and virtual assistant while raising her young son. 2, 2019 at 5:14 PM PDT. The rich, sandy soil that is exclusive to the area is what gives the melons such asweet flavor. After returning to Cave City from World War II, Lester became a watermelon farmer in 1945. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. Johnson Brothers was established in 1976. On her blog, Seek Adventures, Julie shares about the outdoor and travel adventures of her family as they camp and standup paddleboard across the South. . Updated: Aug. 13, 2020 at 3:19 PM PDT. All rights reserved. Live music begins at 5:45 p.m. with Anna Brinker, followed by Dixon Street and Tracy Byrd. Cave City Watermelon Festival. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. When you direct seed, you very seldom get a perfect stand. They both built homes (on the site of the current location of the Bank of Cave City and on the old bank property just to the north) and moved in by 1890. 2021 Cave City Watermelon Festival Set for July 29-31th April 29, 2021by KFFB 106.1 FM Cave City Watermelon Festival is gearing up for another great Festival. 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