| Schedule of Events | |
|---|---|
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Wednesday, July 30, 2025 – Free Admission |
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4:00 PM |
Chamber of Commerce Shrimp Dinner |
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6:00 PM |
Food Court Opens |
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6:00 PM |
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7:00 PM |
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10:30 PM |
Watermelon Festival Closes |
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Thursday, July 31, 2025- Free Admission |
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|
6:00 PM |
Food Court Opens |
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6:00 PM |
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|
7:00 PM |
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|
10:30 PM |
Watermelon Festival Closes |
|
Friday, August 1, 2025 – Free entry before 4PM, After 4PM: $5 adults (18+), children free |
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12:00 PM |
Festival Market and Food Court Opens |
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4:30 PM |
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6:00 PM |
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7:00 PM |
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|
11:00 PM |
Watermelon Festival Closes |
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Saturday, August 2, 2025 – Free entry before 4PM, After 4PM: $5 adults (18+), children free |
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10:00 AM |
Festival Market and Food Court Open |
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10:00 AM |
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11:00 AM |
Opening Ceremony and Greetings |
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11:00 AM |
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11:30 AM |
Little Miss Princess Contest |
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11:30 AM |
Little Ms. and Mr. Farmer Contests |
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12:00 PM |
Peanut City Clogging |
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1:00 PM |
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2:30 PM |
Watermelon Eating and Seed Spitting Contests |
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3:00 PM |
Country Kickers Cloggers |
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5:00 PM |
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6:00 PM |
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7:00 PM |
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9:15 PM |
Fireworks |
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11:00 PM |
Watermelon Festival Closes |
Tentative schedule of events. Schedule last updated May 7, 2025.
Open to 4-5 year olds. Contestants will ride in the Festival Parade on Saturday, August 2 at 10:00 and the contest will follow.
Application and additional details available from Patty Hale at (252) 398-7146 or halep@chowan.edu.
Open to 4-5 year olds. Contestants will ride in the Festival Parade on Saturday, August 2 at 10:00 and the contest will follow.
Application and additional details available from Patty Hale at (252) 398-7146 or halep@chowan.edu.
Advance registration is required. Registration form available here. Registration deadline: July 23, 2025.
Contestants should be rising Kindergartners for the school year beginning Fall 2025.
The main festival entrance is on Sycamore Street, just off of Main Street, behind Centura Bank. Parking is available along Main Street, in the lots, directly across from Sycamore Street, behind Maxway, and along other nearby streets.
Provided by Murfreesboro Farms, Inc.
Miss Elizabeth Steinlage was crowned as the 2025 North Carolina Watermelon Queen during the 42nd Annual North Carolina Watermelon Association’s Convention held March 7 – 8, 2025, in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
Elizabeth (Elle) is the twenty-year-old daughter of Joe and Ashley Steinlage of Morrisville, North Carolina. She is a student at North Carolina State University majoring in Agricultural Science.
Elle is a Student Ambassador at North Carolina State University, representing the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She attended the 2024 Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference. She participates in the Agricultural Communicators Program, Agriculture Business Management Club, Ducks Unlimited, and Delta Gamma’s State College Chapter. Elle made the Dean’s List for both spring and fall 2024.
Elle aims to build a career specializing in the use of pesticides and gene editing in plants. She also hopes to acquire land and establish her own homestead, where she can raise crops and livestock.
Benchmark Builders of NC
Bryant & Lassiter Septic Tank Service
Colonial Pharmacy
Edward’s Insurance
Garrett-Sykes Funeral Home
Hill Realty
John’s Seafood
Johnson and McLean
Napoli’s of Murfreesboro
NAPA Auto Parts – C & K of Murfreesboro
Nucor Steel Hertford County
Revelle Realty, Murfreesboro
Southern Bank
Charles and Dell Aycock
Tim and Lorrie Barnes
Hal and Kay Thomas
Lynette Bunch
North Carolina Watermelon Festival | July 30 – August 2, 2025 | Historic Downtown Murfreesboro, NC
