For Food Vendor Inquiries call Andrea @ 870-283-5301, For Craft & Commercial Vendor Inquiries email Hana @ craftmelonvendor@yahoo.com, For Volunteer Opportunities call Robin @ 870-283-1195For Entertainment Inquiries call Tyler @ 870-283-4877, To become a sponsor call Julie @ 870-307-9631, Copyright 2022, Cave City Watermelon Festival. Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). So much so that Cave Citys watermelons are celebrated each year at the annual Cave City Watermelon Festival Celebrating its 42ndyear, the 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. Many of the families who lived in these smaller communities resided in those areas for years before the town of Cave City was ever imagined. We got 2000 plants from a hot greenhouse. 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. We are very grateful that people like what we produce, Julie said. 2023 Ozark Gateway. Meachams Family Restaurant This restaurant has been around for over 40 years. (KAIT) - The town of Cave City and festival goers from all over the country are kicking off the 40th annual Watermelon Festival this week. 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. With pawn items, overstocks and new merchandise, you never know what you will find. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. The true melon afficianados will go for the Cave City melons every time and leave the Hope melons to the tourists. Be sure to come pause in Hardy while you travel. Thankfully for the organizers of the wildly popular Windy City Smokeout, fans of barbecue and fans of country music are often one in the same. Growers put a registered trademark stick on the watermelons that reads "Genuine Cave City Watermelon". Were proud of what we do and we try to put the best that we can out there, Woolridge said. In the early 1890s, what was apparently the second church established in town was the Methodist Episcopal (or North Methodist) Church. Cave City Watermelon Festival | Cave City AR 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. Johnson Brothers was established in 1976. (KAIT) -Watermelons are almost ripe for picking for the annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. Although Im perfectly content to drive two hours just to buy a $15 watermelon, you may need some convincing. The preparation is always crazy, especially this time of year, just on a good year, Johnson said. These days, the reason for Cave Citys renowned and its place on the map is due primarily to the annual Watermelon Festival! Kevin Moore Farms, 870-283-2043.Moore's stand is located on the north end of Cave City. Daily Deals This salvage grocery and general merchandise store is one of a kind! Gary said, During this time, they were going more for commercial production for selling them to large cities like Chicago. At that time growers rented stalls in a facility near the present day community center. Gary laughed at his tenacity, admitting sometimes stubborn streaks arent all good. Visitors can also see remnants of the famous swinging bridge which spanned the Black River until it was dismantled in 1957. "Usually we start setting the first plants somewhere along about the middle of April and that's when we were getting some real cold weather, so we were delayed a little bit in getting the first plants set out," Johnson said. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. Brothers, Gary and Phillip are 3rd generation watermelon growers. First Security Bank, Member FDIC. It appears that you're using a severely outdated version of Safari on Windows. Cave City bills itself as having the worlds sweetest watermelons. Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed full of fun and entertainment for the entire family.Activities include a children's fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed . He said, I will let them sit there and rot before I take that. Phillip laughed, recalling the story, And thats exactly what happened. Their grandmothers family also grew melons and peddled them door to door after hauling them by wagon to Batesville. . Family LP Farms (870) 368-7495 167 and 115. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m. Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. Every year, they have to deal with imitation melons. And if you are coming from anywhere in Arkansas, it can be a bit of a haul. 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. Also, be sure to grab a piece of carrot cake if its on the menu. 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. Over the years, various attempts have been made to explore the cave and to determine the origins of the Crystal River which flows under the town of Cave City. Peck hosts SiriusXMs Y2Kountry and is an accomplished recording artist and performer. We made a little money and have been doing it ever since, Gary said. Procedures for Commercial/Industrial Construction. YP, the YP logo and all other YP marks contained herein are trademarks of YP LLC and/or YP affiliated companies. Pioneer Lane Greenhouse Fill up your garden with beautiful plants and trees from the Pioneer Lane Greenhouse. That is when we really went to studying how to do things a different way, Gary said. The town is home to a growing school district that includes the Cave City Charter High School. To contact our registered growers, check:. C. S. Lawthorp began promoting the oversized melons to shippers and the local farmers quickly took note. Back to . Many out-lying families moved into town soon after the creation of the new school to better educate their children. Over the years, the Johnsons have overcome any obstacle in their path. 167 North of Cave City. The best way to see the river is through one of the local outfitters such as 3 Rivers Outfitters or Spring River Camp and Canoe. Garrett Duncan walking a growers' Cave City Watermelon . Today it still stands as the oldest motor court of its kind in the state, and likely the entire region. 4,446 were here. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. CAVE CITY, AR (KAIT) - It doesn't quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. This is not a rinky-dink operation: More than 500,000 attendees are expected at this years event, enjoying activities such as a cherry pancake breakfast, the crowning of the Cherry Queen, and delicious barbecue and beer. If it doesnt have the sticker, its not an official Cave City watermelon. It wasnt until the late 1990s that the Johnson Brothers began utilizing irrigation techniques in their fields. Weve worked, it seems like, even harder than normal to make sure we have a great festival this year Everythings in place and were ready to have a festival. No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. "They thrive really well in hot weather so the hot May was really good for growth," Johnson said. That leaves us with a whole day to explore, and the roads out of Cave City lead to interesting locations. Held in the Cherry Capital of the WorldTraverse City, Michigan, that isthe National Cherry Festival runs for the entire week of July 1-8, a testament to just how celebrated this stone fruit is among locals and tourists alike (We are thrilled to put cherries on the top of everyones mind, reads the official website). 2 personas estn hablando de esto. Since 1980, they've. Cave City also has multiple banks, medical offices and pharmacy, a grocery store, several convenience stores government offices and Cave City Nursing Home. John S. Gibson began hosting a competition for the largest melons in 1916. Grab a cooler and gas up the tank because we are heading out in search of good eats, unique treasures and scenic vistas. Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups and Tourism, Auto & Motorcycle Sales, Service, Tires & More, Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups & Tourism. Watermelons and other various produce such as. 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. 2 talking about this. This changed the way the Johnsons produced their melons for the first time in history. The building for that church was completed in 1898 and existed until the Methodist Church was united in 1939. But this is an issue they deal with and overcome by having loyal customers and some of the sweetest melons in the state. Each year as soon as they arrive with the first loads, their parking lot is flooded with customers before the melons can even be weighed and stickered. Sadly, this year will be the first time the city will have to cancel the event due to health and safety concerns pertaining to COVID-19. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. Visitors can view their work with paddlefish, sturgeon, Gulf Coast Striped Bass, walleye, and smallmouth bass. 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. You can even take a short side trip to check out their furniture and appliance store in Glencoe. The Johnson Brothers also grow cantaloupes and typically employ four or five teenagers to help get the melons out each summer. So bring your family and lawn chairs and celebrate the labor and goodness of one of the greatest contributors to the Sharp County economy. 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. As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. In addition to coffee, you can munch on breakfast and lunch selections as you head through town. The fun filled event is packed full of live music, great food, old friends, and of course, WATERMELON! Historic Downtown Hardy Loaded with unique shops and restaurants, downtown Hardy is a postcard community nestled along the Spring River. The Johnsons invite the public to enjoy the fruits of their harvest, arriving at their stand this week. He promptly refused. Apparently the Laman brothers bought large tracts of land in the Cave City area, built their business and encouraged other merchants to relocate at that place. Big Creek Man Cave Whether you are looking for sporting goods, ammo, hunting for a rare book, or just seeking a cool find Big Creek Man Cave is the place to shop. This free, family friendly event is chocked full of food, entertainment and vendors, not to mention the free, ice cold melons on Saturday. Perkey Farms-JW & Wendell Perkey | Cave City AR No one picks the watermelons but Gary and Phillip. Phillip Johnson and his brother have been farming watermelons over 40 years. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late 60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit. They were beautiful hot plants. 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. Not necessarily "scare-your-pants-off" adventure but the kind where you seek out new and exciting things. When you direct seed, you very seldom get a perfect stand. That's saying somethingsince Johnson and his brother were raised in the watermelon fields as their parents also grew them. By 1958, the association had 127 members with about 1,000 acres planted in watermelons in Sharp and Independence counties. On August 12th, 1925, Hugh and Edgar Laseter established a new standard for giant melons with their 136-lb winning watermelon. Its part of The Takeouts 2023 Eats Calendar, a rundown of the years best events. 167. 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. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. It wasnt always successful, but with each step, they learned and improved or changed their growing methods. Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! Weve gathered a list of some great stops along the way, so now its time for you to choose your own adventure. Locals and watermelon farmers all agree the festival has seen a lot of changes over the years. The area now known as Cave City was originally situated entirely in Independence County, most of which was in Barren Township. We have very loyal people. There is also a thriving art and music scene. They are located 2 1/2 miles north of Cave City. Published: Jul. 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. "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 . Renees Cafe This down-home country restaurant is where you will find the locals hanging out. They platted off the town and reportedly gave land to other churches and for the establishment of a school. That congregation has continued to grow and is currently adding to its present structure to accommodate an ever-expanding membership. The second school was located about two blocks off Main Street on what is now East Center Street, with the finally campus at its present site. When they are picking, the selection goes fast, so we get there early. Music starts at 6 p.m. with Erin Walters, followed y MaryBeth Byrd and Danielle Peck. Woods Riverbend Restaurant If you love waterfront dining you are in for a treat at Woods. The park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Only in Arkansas. The Watermelon Growers Games will commence at 3 p.m. with a watermelon . Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event for decades. Right now, everything is on track for the festival to start Thursday. Pickled foods are, of course, the highlight here, but its comedy-focused too, featuring stand-up shows and touring performers throughout the weekend. The Johnsons reputation is based on the sweetness and perfection of their melons and they dont want to put the responsibility of cutting them off the vine on anyone else. It can be a little aggravating, he said, when others are using your name to sell a different product. Taking the stage at 6 p.m. is The Ellis Family, followed by Believers Worship Group at 7 p.m. and the Jordan Family Band at 8 p.m. Friday activities begin at 8 a.m. and last all day. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. Black Rock Museum Although the museum has no set hours, contact the city to schedule a visit and learn about the history of this small town that sits in the gateway to the Ozarks. how to tie a cherry stem with ones tongue. The cave at Cave City served as a source of pride for the community for many years, and the Cave Courts housed many tourists who traveled through that area of Northeast Arkansas. We dug holes, put water to make a sluice in the ground and then put the plant in. Were ready for everybody to come to Cave City.. The SRC recently spent an evening with Gary and Phillip Johnson and their wives, Becky and Julie, who have been with them every step of the way. The Fourth of July Picnic at Cave City was another major attraction, bringing folks from all over the surrounding country. Although the town of Cave City is some 150 miles from the Mississippi River, it has been said that the Crystal River rises and falls with the Mississippi River. The three-day festival will take place on July 28-30. The Cave City Watermelon Festival is, in many ways, the perfect summer celebration. They talked about their deep history of farming melons, the challenges, triumphs and even some humorous tales. The Cave City Watermelon Festival will take place July 26-28 at the Cave City city park. The annual watermelon festival, which draws thousands to the town each year, is scheduled for July 26-28. Cave City growers just want you to know, it's important to look for the sticker. Between the time Arkansas became a state in 1836 and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, a migration of families moved into the area that was later to become Cave City. This will mark the festival's 30th year. The Hunter Brothers are located in Cave City. You can also learn more about her writing on her site Seek Adventures Media. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. Last night, I had a Facebook message from a guy driving four hours to get watermelons. It is about an event, about happiness. (KAIT) - Even though the Cave City Watermelon Festival was canceled, melon season has been going better than expected. Its crazy because theres so many different components to it.. This is unfair to the growers who, like the Johnsons, put hundreds of hours of work into their harvest, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars they have invested in the crops. 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). file size: 5 MB. It will include games, auctions, seed spitting contests, free watermelon feasts, a family wet zone park, and live entertainment, including headliner Tracy Byrd. He first spent a short time working on a construction crew that built the current highway that runs through the city the family has called home since before the early 1920s. 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