Meachams Family Restaurant This restaurant has been around for over 40 years. There should be enough melons for the 36th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. The 42nd annual Cave City Watermelon Festival is slated to begin Thursday (July 28) and run through Saturday (July 30). Created with Sketch. The town of Cave City was started around 1890 when two brothers, James Andrew (Jim) and John William (Jack) Laman, moved to the present site of Cave City. It had been known for years that local Indians had used the cave for dwellings. From planting in the greenhouse to harvest usually takes about 90 days, depending on rainfall amounts and the variety of melon. & Wendell Perkey Farms 870-283-4395, 870-283-5918.Located 2 miles north of Cave City on Highway 167. C. S. Lawthorp began promoting the oversized melons to shippers and the local farmers quickly took note. We try really hard to produce a great product. Little Rock, Conway, Searcy, Benton, Heber Springs, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, West Memphis, Batesville, Mountain View, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Arkadelphia. Town and family lore have it that the post office was secretly spirited out of Loyal and rolled on logs to Cave City after the presidential election of 1892 placed more friendly Democrats in charge of the postal department! This changed the way the Johnsons produced their melons for the first time in history. Lake Charles State Park Lakeside campsites, swimming, hiking and some of the best crappie fishing in the area draw a lot of people to Lake Charles. Circle B Farm Farms 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS (870) 307-0302 403 Brewer Hill Rd Batesville, AR 72501 2. Older Post Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs. In August of 1958, Burnis Brown was the manager of the Cave City Watermelon Growers Association, which consisted of 127 members with 1,000 acres planted in watermelons. Watermelons Schedule your trip for mid-July through August and grab a watermelon or two from one of the registered growers. The seeds are started in the greenhouse in March. Many of these families moved to that area from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, etc., and settled along the creeks and waterways in the more temperate climates away from the mosquitoes and malaria of Eastern Arkansas. The Fourth of July Picnic at Cave City was another major attraction, bringing folks from all over the surrounding country. 167 North of Cave City. No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. They were placed nine feet apart then, today, they are only three feet apart. They carry everything you need for a successful fishing trip on the Spring River. No one has ever been able to show where the river begins or where it eventually ends. In addition to coffee, you can munch on breakfast and lunch selections as you head through town. 4:00pm: Free Watermelon Feast - Behind Melon stage. by Cathy Drew | Jul 9, 2021 | Travel Tips. Where's this story? The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. This involves discing, cultivating, fertilizing and planting that typically begins in April. This free, family friendly event is chocked full of food, entertainment and vendors, not to mention the free, ice cold melons on Saturday. We thought we were going to be about three weeks late.". Perhaps it runs deepest in the Carter family with roots that go back four to five generations for two growers. Artisan Grill The Artisan Grill takes the food you love and gives it a flare that makes it more than special. A melon growers' association was formed at Cave City in 1938. Brothers Jonathan and Justin Hunter are the newest and youngest registered Cave City Watermelon Growers. One of the main draws to Hardy is the Spring River and its a must if you enjoy floating. Julie said she credits their customers with being the main reason their business has remained successful. Note the stickers on the melons in the photo. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. The prize melon will be auctioned off to benefit St. Judes. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks and Tourism. The melon stand is on Main Street next to Dollar General. Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers have spearheaded this celebration of the town and its rich history of producing the world's best watermelons. But with every good thing comes some form of negative issue. Before implementing irrigation, Phillip explained, We spent lots of quality time with that garden hoe. He admitted he was very picky about how it was done. As the festival inches closer, melons are flying off of stands just as quickly as growers are putting them there. This year County Music Legend Tracy Byrd will be headlining the Free festival on Saturday Night. Copyright 2018KAIT. They were sold to brokers, simply by word of mouth, and transported across the nation. The Johnsons invite the public to enjoy the fruits of their harvest, arriving at their stand this week. 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. (KAIT) - The town of Cave City and festival goers from all over the country are kicking off the 40th annual Watermelon Festival this week. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. 2023 Ozark Gateway. This will mark the festival's 30th year. They platted off the town and reportedly gave land to other churches and for the establishment of a school. Phillip added, We are not just selling a product. Johnson attributes the success and love for Cave City's festival to this very aspect: the dedication and family tie that watermelon growers bring to the classic summer treat. Were ready for everybody to come to Cave City.. (800) 458-4756 Read more. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. Additionally, there are several big events with live music throughout the year. For the town that boasts. SHARP COUNTY'S WIDEST CIRCULATED AND ONLY LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER. You can buy the melons outside of the city, but supply is limited and there are imposters. After the harvest, pulling of the plastic and planting grass on the fields carries their work into October or November. Garrett Duncan walking a growers' Cave City Watermelon . She was born in downtown Batesville in the late 60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit. Watermelon growing is not a new thing in Cave City, however. Its likely festival goers will hear him play Watermelon Crawl, a fitting song to help celebrate this Cave City festival. Gary, laughed and said he told his brother to get her some water. 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. In 1919, J. M. (Roe) Street became president and served in that capacity until his death in 1942. Most actually want to know how to select the best and sweetest melon. In its earlier years, Cave Citys means of entertainment appeared to revolve around camp and/or brush arbor meetings and revivals at local (and often not-so local) churches. Source:http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs, Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs, Students map out early Arkansas explorer's path, Procedures for Commercial/Industrial Construction. 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. Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event. If they have banana pudding on the menu, order extra to go! The nearest post office, which had been located at Loyal, was physically moved to the new town of Cave City in 1892. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. John S. Gibson began hosting a competition for the largest melons in 1916. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The annual watermelon festival, which draws thousands to the town each year, is scheduled for July 26-28. That's saying somethingsince Johnson and his brother were raised in the watermelon fields as their parents also grew them. Source: http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs Share That is what is so amazing, the last few years, people come to us and we dont take that for granted.. Gather around for events such as the biggest happy hour of the summer and enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue brunch on Sunday. That is when we really went to studying how to do things a different way, Gary said. In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry. Watermelon Festival - The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. They talked about their deep history of farming melons, the challenges, triumphs and even some humorous tales. Cave City has held the tradition of celebrating the "world's sweetest watermelons" by holding a watermelon festival every summer since 1980. Many out-lying families moved into town soon after the creation of the new school to better educate their children. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Growers prepare for Cave City Watermelon Festival, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Plans for new Sikeston fire station moving forward, Buddhist monks to create mandala sand painting at Lyon College. The harvest is the easiest part, according to the brothers. "Grew better than I've probably ever seen watermelons grow.". While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! For Wooldridge, its not his first rodeo. It is located two and a half miles North of Cave City on Hwy. Phillip said the most labor intensive and important part of the production comes while preparing the soil. Cave Citys watermelons arent touted as the sweetest in the world for no reason. Cave City School - All School Reunion Time: 12:00 p.m. Place: Cave City Middle School Cafeteria Watermelon Games - for the public Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: In front of the Melon Stage Watermelon Growers Games Time: 3:00 p.m. Place: In Front of the Melon Stage Free Watermelon Feast Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Behind the Melon Stage Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! The first ones out of the field bring families out of the backroads and cities alike to be among the first to experience the fruits of the farmers labors around the first to middle of July. 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." The Cave City Watermelon Festival slated for July 29 through 31 is quickly approaching. You can also learn more about her writing on her site Seek Adventures Media. Far Out & Funky This fun antique store wears its name well! Whether they are from Cave City or not, the . At 5 p.m., the Prize Melon Auction to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital will kick off . W South St. . Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. Spring River Mammoth Spring is also a popular location for floating the Spring River. Since 1980, they've. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. 9:00am - 4:00pm: Cave City Cruziers Car Show - Cave City Park Registration from 9 - 12; Judging at Noon; Awards at 4:00 pm 10:00am: Watermelon Parade 11:30am: Welcome to the Festival! 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