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

Vendors & Concessions:

2024 Vendor Applications are OPEN

2024 Concession Application are OPEN

We WILL NOT offer one day only vendor spaces.

Vendors Apply Here →   Concessions Apply Here →

2024 festival hours of operation:

Thursday, Aug 8th: 12pm-9pm

Friday, Aug 9th: 9am-9pm

Saturday, Aug 10th: 9am-9pm

2024 Schedule of Activities & Events

THURSDAY, AUG 8TH

• 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 9th

• 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 10th

• 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

• Rodney Atkins, Legion Field 8:30pm

  • Gates open at 6:00pm

  • Lil Skinny 7:00pm

  • 2024 Watermelon Idol 8:00pm

2024 Watermelon Festival Concert Headliner: Rodney Atkins

The excitement is building as the 48th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival gears up to welcome multi-award-winning country artist Rodney Atkins as the headliner for this year’s highly anticipated concert event. Known for his chart-topping hits and genuine, down-to-earth charm, Atkins promises to deliver a memorable performance that will have festival-goers on their feet and singing along all night long.

Rodney Atkins, one of Country Music’s biggest stars, has reached remarkable heights in his career, including being named the Top New Male Vocalist at the ACM Awards. His single "Watching You" not only topped the charts but was also declared the Number One Song of the Decade by Country Aircheck, earning the songwriter a BMI “Million-Air” Award.

With an impressive track record boasting six Number One singles, eight Top 5 singles, and 3.8 billion career streams, Atkins continues to be recognized as one of the most powerful voices in Country Music. Atkins was the second most-played male artist of the decade overall. He has also sold over 11.4 million units and earned ten career Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum RIAA certifications to date, including his latest Gold-certified single, “Caught Up In The Country (feat. The Fisk Jubilee Singers),” which also set the record for the longest-running single (at the time) in Billboard Country Airplay history at 57 weeks. Atkins has performed on NBC’s TODAY Show, GMA’s Strahan & Sara, and FOX & Friends.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rodney Atkins to the 48th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival,” said festival organizer, Christy Burns. “His undeniable talent, combined with his genuine connection to his fans, makes him the perfect headliner for this year’s event. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and good old-fashioned fun!”

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 15, with a special one-day “early bird” discounted general admission ticket price of $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-10. Early bird tickets will be sold at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce from 8:00AM to 6:00PM or by clicking HERE!

After this one-day sale, advanced general admission tickets for the concert will be $25 for adults; day-of-show tickets will be $30. Children’s tickets will be $10 on the day of the show. All reserved seating tickets are $45.

For more information about the concert, contact the Hope Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at 870-777-3640.

*Gates open at 6:00PM - Show starts 7:00PM - Headliner 8:30PM

#RodneyAtkins