The Franklin Watermelon Festival presented by AlphaGraphics of Franklin and hosted by the Franklin Farmers Market delivered smiles, sticky fingers, and soaked shirts of full of sweet watermelon juice. Our local Farmers did not disappoint with a large delicious crop of 8 different varieties that nearly sold out from all Farmers. Events ranged from the popular Watermelon Eating Contest for Kids and Adults, hence the wet shirts, free watermelon slices, face painting, and kids games. Visit this link to our website photo gallery for all the photos of this year’s Watermelon Festival.
Our market picnic tables were full of eager Kid and Adult watermelon-eating contestants. A fast one-minute time frame determined who would get to enjoy this year bragging rights as the quickest watermelon eaters of Franklin, Tennessee!
Last years first-place winner in the Kids contest returned this to defend his title, and he won again. Congratulations Shamarion Cooksey! Also, note his younger brother took 2nd pace.
Great job Kids!
Winners of the 2019 Kids Watermelon Eating Contest are:
1st Place – Shamarion Cooksey 2nd year in a row
2nd Place – Corey Cooksey
3rd Place – Avah Bramante
Winners of the 2018 Adult Watermelon Eating Contest are:
1st Place – Alan Tang
2nd Place – Jacob Blaze
3rd Place – T. Michael Twardowski
The Leiper’s Fork Carving Club attends each year carving beautiful and unique creations from watermelons during the Watermelon Festival. It was truly amazing what their hands and imagination can create each year, even a sailboat with sails this year. Thank you to each talented carver for making our event so special again this year.
A special thank you to Ryan Whited of Springfree Trampoline for supplying the incredibly safe trampoline for the enjoyment of kids jumping and dunking a small basketball through a hoop.
Our Farmers and Food Vendors provided refreshing drinks and foods. Padrino’s Pops sold many of their famous watermelon pops, and Belle Springs Lemonade wowed the crowd with their handmade watermelon lemonade with melons sourced from the farmers. And Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnuts served up beautiful watermelon red donuts!
Market presenting sponsor AlphaGraphics of Franklin provided much-needed signage and free Kids Coloring Books with Crayons. The Franklin Watermelon Festival is not possible without the generous support of community business leader Jim Bright, owner of AlphaGraphics of Franklin.Visit this link to our website photo gallery for all the photos of this year’s Watermelon Festival.
The Franklin Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8am-1pm behind the Factory in Franklin, TN. The market is a 16yr old producer’s only market with the largest assembly of local farmers providing fresh farm food all year long each Saturday morning. Find us at 230 Franklin Road behind the Factory. Visit us online at www.franklinfarmersmarket.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest market news. Visit this link to our website photo gallery for all photos of this years 2018 Franklin Watermelon Festival.