Melon Fest Brings Slice of Summer Downtown on August 22

The City of Hermiston and Hermiston Downtown District invite you to savor the summer at Melon Fest, which returns to downtown Hermiston on Saturday, August 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s festival brings fun, flavor, and friendly competition to celebrate Hermiston’s world-famous watermelons.

Melon Fest is a family-friendly event packed with live music, local vendors, and free slices of Hermiston watermelon. Festival-goers can enjoy downtown’s summer atmosphere while taking part in crowd-favorite contests and events, including a classic car show, watermelon carving demonstrations, a cornhole tournament, Hermiston FFA animal showcase, and more.

• Rotary Breakfast and Music on Festival Street – 8 a.m.
• Industry Dance Company – 9 a.m.
• Watermelon Costume Contest – 10:30 a.m. | Prizes: $300, $200, $100
• Music by Musically Unstable – 11 a.m.
• Watermelon Eating Contest and Seed Spitting Contest – 11:30 a.m.
• Bathtub Races – 1 p.m.

“There’s nothing quite like a Hermiston watermelon, and Melon Fest is the perfect celebration for what makes life so sweet in Hermiston.” said Brandon Artz, Hermiston Parks & Recreation Director.

One of the event’s most anticipated attractions, the Melon Fest Bathtub Races, puts speed, strategy, and silliness on display. Teams of three — one rider and two pushers — race decorated, wheeled bathtubs down Festival Street in head-to-head sprints. The top teams from the timed trials will advance to a tournament-style bracket for the championship. Prizes will be awarded for First Place and Best Dressed Team, so participants are encouraged to bring both their racing spirit and creative costumes.

Contest sign-ups and vendor information are available at https://secure.rec1.com/OR/hermiston-or/catalog.