Watermelons have long been a calling card for the City of Hope.

 
 

The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts & crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as smokey pulled pork and golden fried catfish. What else can you do at the festival? You can participate in a 5k race, participate in Watermelon Olympics, enter the "Watermelon Idol" talent contest, browse the car show, and have a blast in the Kidz Zone. 

August 7-9, 2025

This year’s theme: MELONPALOOZA

MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US FOR THE WATERMELON FESTIVAL PARADE, Monday August 4th!

 
 

Vendors & Concessions:

2025 Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!

2025 Concession Application are NOW OPEN!

We WILL NOT offer one day only vendor spaces.

Vendors Apply Here →   Concessions Apply Here →

2025 festival hours of operation:

Thursday, Aug 7th: 12pm-9pm

Friday, Aug 8th: 9am-9pm

Saturday, Aug 9th: 9am-9pm



2025 Schedule of Activities & Events

THURSDAY, AUG 7TH

  • Watermelon Festival Ribbon Cutting w/ 2024 Watermelon Pageant Winners 12:00pm-Coliseum

  • Festival Opens 12:00pm

    • Vendors: Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion

    • Concessions: Outdoor

  • River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone Opens 12:00pm

    • GellyBall

    • Sno Cones

  • Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374 12:00pm

  • Beautiful Baby Contest Display 12:00pm-Coliseum

  • Kiwanis Pulled Pork Dinner 4:30pm-7:00pm-Community Center

  • Watermelon by the Slice Open 12:00pm-Big tent

  • Watermelon Olympics, City of Hope Parks & Recreation 6:00pm-meet at Legion Field

  • Rafter J Living Proof Band 6:00pm-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • Dog Show, City of Hope Animal Shelter/Hope for Paws 7:00pm-Hebrews 11:1 Stage

FRIDAY, AUG 8th

  • Festival Opens

    • Vendors: Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion 9:00am

    • Concessions: Outdoor 10:00am

  • River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone Opens 9:00am

    • Inflatables

    • GellyBall

    • Pony Rides

    • Camel Rides

    • AR Game & Fish Mobile Aquarium

    • Sno Cones

  • Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374 9:00am

  • Watermelon by the Slice Opens 10:00am-Big tent

  • LifeShare Blood Drive 11:00am-4:30pm

  • Carl Jackson 3:00pm-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • Lion’s Club Fish Fry 4:30pm-7:00pm-Community Center

  • Melon Jams Open Mic Night 6:00pm-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • Washington Vintage Dancers 6:00pm-in front of coliseum

  • Cornhole Tournament, City of Hope Parks & Recreation 6:00pm-Legion Field

  • Watermelon Festival Softball Tournament Begins, City of Hope Parks & Recreation 7:00pm-Kelly Fields

SATURDAY, AUG 9th

  • Watermelon 5K, Don Still (870)397-1236 7:30am-Hope Fair Park front gate

  • Melon Mile, Don Still (870)397-1236 8:30am-Hope Fair Park front gate

  • Civitan Car Show 8:00am-Behind Hebrews 11:1 Stage

  • Festival Opens

    • Vendors: Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion 9:00am

    • Concessions: Outdoor 10:00am

  • River Vally Tractor Kidz Zone Opens 9:00am

    • Inflatables

    • GellyBall

    • Pony Rides

    • Camel Rides

    • AR Game & Fish Mobile Aquarium

    • Sno Cones

  • Fishing Derby, City of Hope Parks & Recreation 9:00am-Huckabee Lake

  • Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374 9:00am

  • Rusty Relics Antique Tractor Club, Roger White (870)451-2096 9:00am

  • Danctastics Dance Studio 9:00am-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • Money in the Haystack, Sponsored by Heather Doucet State Farm Insurance 9:30am-River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone

  • Watermelon by the Slice Opens 10:00am-Big Tent

  • Junior Watermelon Olympics, Sponsored by Hempstead County Farm Bureau 10:00am-River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone

  • Watermelon Waddle Duck Races, Hope Piranhas Swim Team 10:00am-Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

  • Hope Piranhas Swim Team Exhibition 11:00am-Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

  • Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest, Hosted by UAHT 11:00am-Hebrews 11:1 Stage

  • Watermelon Eating Contest for all ages 12:00pm-Hebrews 11:1 Stage

  • LifeShare Blood Drive 11:30am-4:30pm

  • Seed Spitting Competition 1:30pm-Hebrews 1:1 Stage

  • Watermelon Idol Preliminaries, Hosted by Arnetta Bradford 3:00pm-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • Nighthawk Band 5:00pm-Farmers Bank & Trust Stage

  • HEADLINER, Legion Field 8:30pm

    • Gates open at 6:00pm

    • OPENER 7:00pm

    • 2025 Watermelon Idol 8:00pm

Lead Singers of Classic Rock LIVE at the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival

Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of the band CHICAGO, and Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of the band BOSTON, team up for a night of unforgettable classic rock music spanning the ‘70s, ‘80s and '90s on Saturday, August 9th at the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival. This musical tribute features two great sets of classic hits with the timeless ballads of CHICAGO and the guitar-driven rock music of BOSTON. Over 15 million fans have attended a live CHICAGO or a live BOSTON concert over a 32-year span featuring either Jason or Tommy's signature high-tenor lead vocals.

Jason Scheff joined CHICAGO in 1985 as lead singer/songwriter/bass player and went on to perform thousands of live concerts spanning four decades during a non-stop touring and recording career with the band. Jason contributed vocals, bass, keyboards, and songwriting, spanning 17 CHICAGO albums and 98 songs, including lead vocals on the 1986 #3 Billboard Hot 100 chart hit single "Will You Still Love Me?".

Tommy DeCarlo joined BOSTON in 2008 after the passing of Brad Delp in 2007 and performed on every tour thereafter, including 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and the latest in 2017. In 2013, Tommy sang four songs on BOSTON's sixth and latest studio album, Life, Love & Hope, including the title track. Tommy's journey that led to BOSTON happened after he reached out to the band offering to sing should they need any additional vocalists for the Bred Delp Tribute concert that was being planned in 2007. After hearing him sing, BOSTON invited him to sing two songs and the rest was history.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Jason Scheff and Tommy DeCarlo to headline the 49th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival,” said Christy Burns, Executive Director of the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce. “Their incredible voices and legendary hits will bring an unforgettable night of classic rock to our festival. We can’t wait to celebrate with music, fun, and, of course, our world-famous Hope watermelons!”

Don't miss these two great lead singers along with a top band of touring professionals, which includes; Steve Ferlazzo (Avril Lavigne) keyboards/vocals/music director, August Zadra (Dennis DeYoung) lead guitar/vocals, Steve Fekete (America) lead guitar/vocals, Mike Morales (Dennis DeYoung) drums, Tommy DeCarlo Jr lead guitar/vocals, and JJo Oberle (Sarah McLachlan) bass/vocals.

Fans will have a chance to purchase Early Bird discounted general admission tickets during a one-day-only sale at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce. The sale date will be announced soon, but tickets will be available at a special price of $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-10.

After the Early Bird sale, advanced general admission tickets will be available for $25 for adults, while day-of-show tickets will be $30. Children’s tickets will remain $10 on the day of the event. For those looking for the best seats in the house, reserved seating tickets are available for $45.

The concert will take place at the Hope Fair Park grounds, with gates opening at 6:00 PM. The show kicks off at 7:00 PM, and the highly anticipated headliner will take the stage at 8:00 PM.

Stay tuned for the official announcement of our headliner and the Early Bird ticket sale date! For more information, contact the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at 870-777-3640.