Celebrating Our 67th Year
Hampton County Watermelon Festival

South Carolina's Oldest Continuing Festival

   


"Scouting in Hampton County" June 20th-28th 2009

                                                                                                                                     

2009 Schedule of Events
For further information, rules and applications for various events please visit our Applications page
DATE EVENT TIME LOCATION PRICE
Saturday June 20 5th Annual Motorcycle Ride 10:00 am Cocktails and Dreams See Application
  Melon Miss &
Master Pageant
11:00 am Wade Hampton Gym See Application
Sunday June 21 Festival Family  Fun Day
Opening Ceremonies
2:00 pm Lake Warren State Park Free
  Live Entertainment
"Random Reality"
2:30 pm Lake Warren State Park Free
  Festival Exhibits 2:00-4:00 pm Community Building
Lake Warren
Free
Monday June 22 Self Guided "Hampton Walk" 2:00-5:00 pm Hampton Museum Tape Rental Fee
  2009 Youth Parade Line Up 6:00 pm
Judging at 6:30 pm
Parade Start 7:00 pm
Parade Route:
Varnville Baptist Church to
Varnville Gazebo
Free
  Art Contest Exhibit 2:00-5:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
  Art Contest
Winner Presentation
3:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
Tuesday June 23 Craft Display Judging Tuesday Morning Festival Office See Application
  Craft Display Exhibit Noon-5:00 pm Festival Office Free
  Quilt Display Set Up Between
9:30 am & Noon
Hampton County Rec Dept. Free
  Festival Exhibits 10:00 am-Noon/
2:00 pm- 5:00 pm
Hampton Museum Free
  Story Contest
Winner Presentation
3:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
  Decorated Door Contest Judging 6:00 pm Countywide See Application
  Taste of Hampton 7:00 pm Wade Hampton Cafeteria $5.00
Wednesday June 24 Annual Fishing Contest All Day Event Lake Warren $3.00 Entry Fee
  Health Walk 9:00 am Recreation Dept. Varnville Free
  Quilt Display All Day Event Hampton County Rec Dept. Free
  Children's Day in the Park 10:00 am-Noon Hampton Gazebo Free
  Fashion & Talent Show 10:00 am Recreation Dept. Varnville Free
  Michael's Carnival 5:00-11:00 pm
Open All Day Saturday
Behind PASCO Lawn
Mower Repair
Fees for Rides
  Blue Grass Concert 7:00 pm
“Darlene & the Reflections of Bluegrass” & “Split Rail”

Hampton Methodist Church Parking Lot Free
Thursday June 25 Michael's Carnival 5:00-11:00 pm
Open All Day Saturday
Behind PASCO Lawn
Mower Repair
Fees for Rides
  Festival Exhibits 2:00 pm- 5:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
  NEW EVENT:
Quilt Display
All Day Event
Quilts Must Be Picked Up by 4:00
Hampton County Rec Dept. Free
  Pet Show 5:30-7:00 pm Recreation Dept. Varnville See Application
  Battle of the Towns 7:30 pm Wade Hampton H. S.
Football Field
$3.00
Friday June 26 Arts & Crafts Exhibits
Food Concessions
All Day Hampton Methodist
Church Annex
Free
  Camper Registrations 9:00 am-6:00 pm Polks Muffler Campers Fee
See Application
  Michael's Carnival 5:00-11:00 pm
Open All Day Saturday
Behind PASCO Lawn
Mower Repair
Fees for Rides
  Queen's Reception 6:30-7:30 pm Invitation Only Invitation Only
  Street Dances 9:00 pm-1:00 am Lee Avenue-Hampton Free
Saturday June 27 Arts & Crafts Exhibits
Food Concessions
All Day Hampton Methodist
Church Annex
Free
  Michael's Carnival All Day
Behind PASCO Lawn
Mower Repair
Fees for Rides
  Melon Judging 9:00 am Hampton Gazebo Free
  Parade 10:00 am Hwy # 278
Varnville to Hampton
Free
  Official Welcoming Speeches 1:00 pm Hampton Methodist Church Parking Lot Free
  Dignitaries Luncheon 2:00 pm First Baptist Church Invitation Only
  Festival Exhibits 2:00 pm- 5:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
  Watermelon Eating Contest 2:00 pm Hampton Methodist Church Parking Lot Free
  Free Watermelon Slices 2:30 pm Hampton Methodist Church Parking Lot Free
 


Miss Teen & Coastal
Empire Pageant

7:00 pm Palmetto Theater $5.00
Sunday June 28 Attend the Church of Your Choice  
  Annual Mud Runs 1:00 pm Clay Pits Behind the Airport $10.00 ages 13 and up
$5.00 ages 12 and under
$20.00 for Pit Parking
  Festival Exhibits 2:00 pm- 5:00 pm Hampton Museum Free
  Gospel Concert 6:00 pm Open Arms Fellowship Church
Hwy 601 North
Free

Events

Saturday June 20, 2009

Motorcycle Ride The 5th Annual Motorcycle Ride will begin at 10:00 a.m.  at Cocktails and Dreams.This is for street bikes only.  No dirt bikes or off road bikes allowed. 

Pageant The Little Miss and Master and Teen Miss Pageants at the Wade Hampton H.S/. Gym. Start time 11:00 am.

 

Sunday June 21, 2009

Festival Family Fun Day and Opening Ceremonies The 67th Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival kicks off Sunday June 20 at Lake Warren State Park.  Musical entertainment will be provided by Random Reality. Take Hwy. 601 South or 363 and look for the signs! All activities are FREE and it is a great way to spend time together with the family.  Activities start at 2:00 p.m., with opening ceremonies.  Enjoy canoes, kayaks, lots of fun, games,a rock climbing wall along with free
hot dogs, ice cream and drinks, Festival Displays will be open at the Community Building, from 2-4 pm, and of course.....
FREE WATERMELON SLICES!

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Monday June 22, 2009

The Youth Parade The Youth Parade begins at the Varnville Baptist Church and Ends at the Varnville Gazebo.  We have children of all ages that decorate their bicycles, 4-wheelers, lawn mowers, wagons and whatever else that they want to ride on and parade down the street.  This is always a fun event for the children.  So please join us!
Line up will take place at 6:00 pm. Entry judging starts at 6:30 pm. Entries must be in line to be judged. The parade will start at 7:00 pm.
Divisions:
1. Strollers
2. Walkers & Walkers w/Wagons
3. Tricycles & Bicycles
4. Power Wheels
5. 4 Wheelers & Golf Carts
6. Floats

 

Tuesday June 23, 2009

Watermelon Festival Craft and Exhibit Watermelon Crafts will be on display at the Watermelon Festival Office.  Categories will include quilting, clothing, woodworking, just to name a few. We also have a youth category !   Displays can be viewed from Noon to 5:00 pm and judging will take place that morning:
Rules and Application Here:

 

Quilt Display This is a new event this year as part of the Craft Contest and Exhibit. The display will be open to the public Tuesday June 23rd through Thursday June 25th. Entries do not have to relate to watermelons. Quilts can be taken to Mouzon Fabrics or the Hampton County Rec Dept. on Friday June19th or Monday June 22nd between the hours of 9:30 and 5:00. You can also set them up yourself on Tuesday from 9:30 to noon. All quilts must be picked up by 4:00 pm on Thursday June 25th.
Click Here for more details

 

The Taste of Hampton County Come and join us for some of the best tasting recipes in the Lowcountry.  There will be all kinds of food for you to enjoy.  This event will take place at the Wade Hampton High School Cafeteria in Varnville at 7:00 p.m.  The cost is $5.00 for ages 13 and up and $3.00 for children under 13.  You will not want to miss this great festivity!

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Festival Fishing Contest This event takes place all day long at Lake Warren State Park.  Participants will have a chance to win prizes and have a lot of fun.  The cost to enter is just $3.00.  Bring the kids and participate or just come and watch and enjoy the activity.  There is no fee to enter the park for the fishing contest. 

Fashion and Talent Show Chairperson is Victoria Tuten and the event will be held at the Hampton County Recreation department in Varnville at 10:00 am. The event is FREE

Michael's Carnival This is a great place for the children and for the young at heart.  A variety of rides for children of all ages. Games and concession stands and all of those great carnival snacks that we enjoy.  You must purchase tickets for the rides.  The carnival will be open from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and open all day Saturday.  The carnival will be located behind Pasco's Lawn Care on Hwy #278.

Bluegrass Concert featuring “Darlene & the Reflections of Bluegrass” and “Split Rail”. Bring your lawn chairs for free entertainment at the Hampton Methodist Church parking lot. If the weather is bad the concert will be held at the Open Arms Fellowship Church (Hwy 601N)

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Thursday June 25, 2009

Festival Exhibits The Festival Exhibits will be open to the public, at no charge, throughout the festival.   The exhibits will be open on Sunday, June 21, at the Community Building at Lake Warren from 2:00-4:00 pm during Family Fun Day.They'll also be open to the public at the Hampton Museum on Tuesday, June 23, from 10:00 am to Noon and again from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. If you can't make it until later in the week you can drop in on Thursday June 25, Saturday June 27th or Sunday June 28 from 2:00-5:00 pm each day. All events are FREE!

Pet Show will be held at the Hampton County Recreation Department in Varnville. This event is free for spectators, however there is a small fee to enter pets.  If you are interested in entering a pet please fill out the application on our application page.

Michael's Carnival This is a great place for the children and for the young at heart.  A variety of rides for children of all ages. Games and concession stands and all of those great carnival snacks that we all enjoy.  You must purchase tickets for the rides.  The carnival will be open from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday and open all day Saturday.  The carnival will be located behind Pasco's Lawn Care.

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Friday June 26, 2009

Arts and Crafts/Food All day Friday and Saturday there will be arts & crafts and food concessions at the Hampton Methodist Church Annex

Street Dance at 6:00 pm, our main street will be blocked off for an old fashioned Street Dance. Come join us and dance the night away.  This is free to the public. Music will start at approximately 9:00 pm.

Michael's Carnival This is a great place for the children and for the young at heart.  A variety of rides for children of all ages. Games and concession stands and all of those great carnival snacks that we all enjoy.  You must purchase tickets for the rides.  The carnival will be open from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and all day Saturday.  The carnival will be located behind Pasco's Lawn Care.

 

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Saturday June 27, 2009

 

Watermelon Festival Parade Starts at 10:00 am in Varnville: Applications


Arts and Crafts/Food All day there will be arts & crafts and food concessions at the Hampton Methodist Church Annex

Hampton County Watermelon Judging Contest 9:00 am at the Hampton Gazebo. Watermelons will be received at the Hampton Gazebo from 8:00 am to 9:00am.  The judging will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.  The two categories for this years contest are:
1) Category one - watermelons grown in Hampton County by Hampton County residents
2) Category Two - watermelons grown outside of Hampton County.

Cash awards and ribbons will be awarded to winners in Category One for the following judging classes: Grand Champion, Best Crimson Sweet Type, Best Jubilee Type, Best Other Variety Types and Heaviest Watermelon.  One cash award and ribbon will be awarded to the winner in Category Two for Best Watermelon grown outside of Hampton County.Make plans now to show off your watermelons at this year's Hampton County Watermelon Festival - Watermelon Judging Contest Event.

(Events at the Methodist Church Parking Lot)

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Michael's Carnival This is a great place for the children and for the young at heart.  A variety of rides for children of all ages. Games and concession stands and all of those great carnival snacks that we all enjoy.  You must purchase tickets for the rides.  This is the last day for the carnival which will be open all day. The carnival will be located behind Pasco's Lawn Care.

 

Miss Teen Coastal Empire and Miss Coastal Empire Pageant will be held at the Palmetto Theater. The competition will begin at 5 pm. Admission is only $5.00

 

 

Sunday June 28, 2009

Attend the Church of Your Choice

Mud Runs

The Mud Runs are scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Hampton Clay Pit.  Please do not bring pets, horses, 4-wheelers or golf carts to the Mud Runs.  Gates will open at 12:00 and the races will begin at 2:00.  Rules

Gospel Concert Open Arms Fellowship Church on Hwy 601 N. invites everyone to join them again this year starting at 6 pm

 

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