It also led the brothers to not be as scared to try new things. Blueberry Fields Forever Judsonia, AR, 72081. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected. 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. Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs current publicity chair. After the plant sets the melon, or blooms, it is ready to harvest in 30-35 days. Today it still stands as the oldest motor court of its kind in the state, and likely the entire region. Every eating event you need to know about, month by month. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. All rights reserved. As a kid, I raised watermelons with my grandpa, Billy Carter. There should be enough melons for the 36th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year. Jonesboro! They orderedplants from a greenhouse. Besides producing quality melons, Julie said the trademark sticker for registered users that brands the melons has helped bring customers to their stand. By 1955, the Melon Growers Association met and elected a Board of Directors, consisting of Hassel Ford (President), Silas James, Coy Crow, Verl Ball, and Ernest Landers (who, by the way, was Charles Landers father). We love to get the people in here, love to see where everybody comes from for the festival and the watermelons, he said. I decided to carry on the tradition and raised my first solo melon crop the next spring. For Food Vendor Inquiries call Andrea @ 870-283-5301 . You will pass through the towns of Strawberry, Lynn, Powhatan and Black Rock. On her blog, Seek Adventures, Julie shares about the outdoor and travel adventures of her family as they camp and standup paddleboard across the South. 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! Historical Marker An historical marker documenting the Civil War in Sharp County and the Sharp Family in the Civil War can be seen at the corner of West Main and Court Streets. They offer indoor and outdoor dining and a menu that includes a little bit of everything. 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 Marks Fly Shop Anglers that enjoy fly fishing will want to check out Marks fly shop for all the latest gear and custom tied flies. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have the registered trademark sticker. 2021 Cave City Watermelon Festival Set for July 29-31th April 29, 2021by KFFB 106.1 FM Cave City Watermelon Festival is gearing up for another great Festival. Julie said she credits their customers with being the main reason their business has remained successful. "We thought that we were going to be really late. . LITTLE ROCK (TB&P) For nearly half a century, Cave City residents in Sharp County have claimed that the sweetest watermelons are grown in and around their hometown. The Bank of Cave City was organized in 1906, with James A. Laman as the first president. After the harvest, pulling of the plastic and planting grass on the fields carries their work into October or November. Everything about this festival is a sheer delight, from the pickle juice drinking contest to the Lil Gherkins kids play zone. Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. But the town began a steady decline when it was bypassed by the railroad in the late 1800s. Phillip said before harvesting, they first thump, pat, roll and then finally cut them off the plant. Julie explained You want that melon to sound hollow. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Childrens Hospital. 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! Another point of interest was the cave which was located in the center of town, and from which the town received its name. 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. Phillip laughed recalling a story his mother told, They got married on March 30 and were in the watermelon fields on April 1. Their parents harvested melons until 1976 when Lester became ill. At the peak of watermelon production during the 1960s, the growers association that was established in 1938 had 127 members with over 1000 acres of melons planted. Copyright 2021 KAIT. Your email address will not be published. Roadside stands are found throughout the city. Celebrating its 43rd year, the 2023 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. The harvest is the easiest part, according to the brothers. That is when we really went to studying how to do things a different way, Gary said. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. For a hillbilly like us to see all those hundreds of acres of beautiful watermelons all exactly the same size because they had all been transplanted on plastic was just amazing to us. "Whenever people buy the watermelon, they need to make sure it has the registered trademark sticker, because if it doesn't, it's not the real . This often makes others think all Cave City melons are priced as high as that of the resellers who are selling them out of town. The proverbial watermelon vine was planted when the mens grandfather, Washington Worsh Johnson, first grew melons and cotton on 135 acres at Cave City. The Taste of Chicago has a pretty exhaustive Wikipedia page, which is a pretty good indication that the event is practically built into the citys DNA. Most recognize Gary and Phillip as the Watermelon Men, but in reality, Johnsons melon production began long before the two men were even a thought. They platted off the town and reportedly gave land to other churches and for the establishment of a school. The plants will have established a root ball in about five or six weeks, and are solid enough to be transplanted. Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . The nearest post office, which had been located at Loyal, was physically moved to the new town of Cave City in 1892. 167. There are several outfitters in the area that will provide gear and shuttle service so you can enjoy a fun day in the cool waters of the Spring River. Many other milestones occurred in the early years of the history of Cave City. We try really hard to produce a great product. His son, Eagle Street, later became president in 1942 and served until 1984. Whether they are from Cave City or not, the . Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. Please contact businesses directly for the most recent hours before planning a destination. Although Im perfectly content to drive two hours just to buy a $15 watermelon, you may need some convincing. Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups and Tourism, Auto & Motorcycle Sales, Service, Tires & More, Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups & Tourism. No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. by Cathy Drew | Jul 9, 2021 | Travel Tips. In earlier years, before the creation of the town, the cave had belonged to the Horn family, and was known as Horns Cave. They were sold to brokers, simply by word of mouth, and transported across the nation. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. It is located two and a half miles North of Cave City on Hwy. From July 13-16, pitmasters will provide various styles of mouthwatering barbecue to be enjoyed alongside performances by big names in country music (Zac Brown Band and Darius Rucker among them). Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. Prior to that, Phillip said, We just trusted in the Lord and the weather. Rainfall or lack thereof is detrimental to the production of watermelons. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. YP, the YP logo and all other YP marks contained herein are trademarks of YP LLC and/or YP affiliated companies. He promptly refused. Spring River The Spring River is a favorite spot to fish, swim and float. Cave City growers just want you to know, it's important to look for the sticker. All rights reserved. "Grew better than I've probably ever seen watermelons grow.". We have confidence in our picking. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. One bite into one of these sweet, juicy melons makes it worth the trip. As the festival inches closer, melons are flying off of stands just as quickly as growers are putting them there. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings. The prize melon will be auctioned off to benefit St. Judes. A cross-section of the Crookneck heirloom watermelon, an indigenous watermelon whose seeds were recovered from an abandoned cave in Arizona. Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! No one picks the watermelons but Gary and Phillip. In the beginning, they took trips to sell melons. Grower Brian Carter can trace that blood back to his great, great grandfather who hauled melons from Sandtown by wagon to sell in Batesville in the early 1900s. With a wagon and team, Worsh hauled his melons out of the field and placed them in Big Creek near present day North Ridge Road to cool. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. WEATHERFORD, TEXAS - The north Texas city was once one of the state's biggest watermelon growers (not so much anymore) and once featured an oversized watermelon sculpture outside its courthouse. Through the years, they have learned which planting techniques provide the best yield. After returning to Cave City from World War II, Lester became a watermelon farmer in 1945. But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. Not necessarily "scare-your-pants-off" adventure but the kind where you seek out new and exciting things. http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs. Cave City Watermelon Festival | Cave City AR They are located 2 1/2 miles north of Cave City. Perhaps Oscar Wilde said it best Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The round Genuine Cave City Watermelon sticker, designating the brand is sometimes counterfeited. Watermelons can be bought from these certified growers: Patterson Bros Watermelons Brian Carter's Cave City Watermelons Tim Carter Melon Farms Johnson Brothers Watermelons Miller. Historic Downtown Hardy Loaded with unique shops and restaurants, downtown Hardy is a postcard community nestled along the Spring River. Located 15 miles north of Batesville, Cave City has several retail shops in its historic downtown area. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. Its part of The Takeouts 2023 Eats Calendar, a rundown of the years best events. As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. Sometimes the lot is so full the melon trucks cant get in to unload. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. We made a little money and have been doing it ever since, Gary said. While watermelons are at the center of the celebration, the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas are also celebrated. 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