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. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Travel east/northeast out of Cave City along AR-230 and AR-25. Sometimes the lot is so full the melon trucks cant get in to unload. We worked our tails off all day, did it in cold ground, poured cold water in it, packed them in. Celebrating its 43rd year, the 2023 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Facebook page recently posted how to know if it's a genuine Cave City watermelon versus an imposter. Byrd signed to MCA Nashville Records in 1992, breaking through on the country music scene that year with his 1993 single Holdin Heaven, which reached number one on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. Spring Dipper Cool off with a sweet ice cream treat at the Spring Dipper. The first step of this epic watermelon road trip is to select a registered grower and make certain that they have melons available. CAVE CITY, Ark. When a watermelon is cut off the vine, it is as good as it ever will be, it wont keep ripening, Gary explained. Many of these families moved to that area from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, etc., and settled along the creeks and waterways in the more temperate climates away from the mosquitoes and malaria of Eastern Arkansas. 2 personas estn hablando de esto. And Cave City, Arkansas, has rightfully earned recognition for being the home of the worlds sweetest watermelons. (KAIT) - The Cave City Watermelon Festival is getting closer. Perkey Farms is a family owned and operating watermelon farm. Besides producing quality melons, Julie said the trademark sticker for registered users that brands the melons has helped bring customers to their stand. Last night, I had a Facebook message from a guy driving four hours to get watermelons. Johnson says theyve seen more people at their stand and more people in the city in preparation for melon season and the festival. This year County Music Legend Tracy Byrd will be headlining the Free festival on Saturday Night. Other students moved into town and boarded with family, friends, or in boarding houses which were made available to entice more students to the school. About Arkansas Tourism Pioneer Lane Greenhouse Fill up your garden with beautiful plants and trees from the Pioneer Lane Greenhouse. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have the registered trademark sticker. 5 . Travelers will also find antique stores and flea markets. They carry a little bit of everything from toys to farm supplies, hunting gear and more. 20/07/2019 . Activities include a childrens fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed spitting contest, free watermelon feast, prize melon auction, incredible food, kids wet zone, and live music. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This three-day event will be held July 28-30th and will include entertainment, fun vendors, yummy food trucks, a parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, which is courtesy of the watermelon growers in the area. The Cave City Watermelon Festival slated for July 29 through 31 is quickly approaching. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. He is excited to interact with people at the festival again. CAVE CITY, Ark. CAVE CITY, Ark. County Music Legion Tracy Byrd, will be headlining this years festival on Saturday Night. YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. 167 North of Cave City. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. Visitors can also see remnants of the famous swinging bridge which spanned the Black River until it was dismantled in 1957. Perhaps it runs deepest in the Carter family with roots that go back four to five generations for two growers. watermelon-growers games at 3 p.m., a . We know some will argue that Hope watermelons are better. It hasnt always been easy. This line of the Laman family had settled on Curia Creek, about a mile south of present-day Cave City. They would unload their melons so the brokers could pick them up without having to waste time going into the fields. The continual hot weather has now put them about one week ahead of schedule in opening the stands. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! After the harvest, pulling of the plastic and planting grass on the fields carries their work into October or November. This and resellers marking the melons up to make so large of profit that the cost of their fruit is much higher than the Johnsons melons at their stand. She says the festival will still go on as planned. As soon as the summer sun beams down on the South, families make their way to lakes and rivers to cool off. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. He then began a story about Julies participation, one that was originally supposed to be off the record. It was so good that Julie agreed it would be a good one to tell regarding things that have led to changes they still use today. locate Thankfully, that changed once we finally shook winter and headed into May. In addition to coffee, you can munch on breakfast and lunch selections as you head through town. Phillip - 870-307-9632Gary - 870-283-2854. 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. 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. Gary laughed at his tenacity, admitting sometimes stubborn streaks arent all good. Drifters Coffee Co. Grab an incredible pastry and a cup of joe from this mobile/drive-thru coffee shop with a vintage feel. It is not just a piece of fruit, its more than that, its a memory. He said that is why they try so hard to ensure their melons come off at the perfect time. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. Johnson Brothers Watermelons | Cave City AR The festival is Aug. 6-8, and Crystal said it is the biggest event in Sharp County. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late 60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit. Johnson attributes the success and love for Cave City's festival to this very aspect: the dedication and family tie that watermelon growers bring to the classic summer treat. It then puts about a cup of water in the hole and Julie and Becky sit on the back of the machine and place the rooted plants in the ground one by one. Julie said she credits their customers with being the main reason their business has remained successful. These include learning optimal plant and row spacing and the biggest innovation since the beginning utilizing irrigation techniques. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. The fact is, growers begin working to bring the melons to the area months before with preparations long before the plants even go into the green-houses and eventually into the earth where they will grow. Panhandlewatermelon.com - , Xranks. Cave City Watermelon Festival. Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip & Julie. 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. A cross-section of the Crookneck heirloom watermelon, an indigenous watermelon whose seeds were recovered from an abandoned cave in Arizona. Their first attempt at utilizing the transplanting technique over seed planting was one of the many trial and error experiences from which the Johnsons have learned. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. 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. Julie Johnson, the committee member of the Watermelon Festival, said she is excited, but nervous as she has seen the increase in COVID cases statewide. Phillip spoke of his grandfathers stubborn nature, a trait that at least, in part, led to the success and longevity of his business being carried through to his son and grandsons. Julie Kohl works from home as a writer and virtual assistant while raising her young son. 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. 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. It is located two and a half miles North of Cave City on Hwy. Check out the photo gallery and tell us that doesnt look like a great time. One of the earliest references to a Fourth of July picnic at Cave City was in the Sharp County Recordnewspaper in June of 1899, planning a picnic for that year. An original postcard of the Crystal River Cave Camp as it appeared in the 1930s. The Watermelon Growers Games will commence at 3 p.m. with a watermelon . Phillip Johnson and his brother have been farming watermelons over 40 years. Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. On an extremely hot day, one Julie described as the seventh circle of hell, the couple were working in the field after cultivating the rows spaced ten feet apart with a tractor. You can also learn more about her writing on her site Seek Adventures Media. He promptly refused. The melon farm is on Cold Creek Road. 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. "Then you can always contact that grower with the information that's on there and give a call and say 'hey, we picked this up at this place is this legitimate?'". Crystal Bridges 2023 Exhibitions Unveiled, Visiting Poinsett, Cross and Mississippi Counties, Things To Do In Independence and Stone Counties, An Afternoon in Cave City - Only In Arkansas, An Afternoon in Cave City Only In Arkansas Only in Arkansas Ferry St. Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! The town celebration of the Fourth of July continued for many years, but fell out of favor in the last few decades. Among the growers, are one family who are in their third generation of production of the luscious fruit of summer. Pickled foods are, of course, the highlight here, but its comedy-focused too, featuring stand-up shows and touring performers throughout the weekend. "I think there were three people on the chamber of commerce that got [the festival] going," said. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy are headlining the 2023 festival. We are excited to welcome everyone back this year.. Abra Perkey - 870-307-2666 Rustin Wooldridge - 870-283-9914Stand is located at 1424 Hwy. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m.Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. Growers put a registered trademark stick on the watermelons that reads "Genuine Cave City Watermelon". They are going to take it home to family, to the river, the lake. Usually the Cave City Watermelon Festival is held the week after the Hope Watermelon Festival, but this year they were held concurrently. . Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. Gather around for events such as the biggest happy hour of the summer and enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue brunch on Sunday. Evening Shade is small but gained some popularity in the 90s when it was the setting for the television show of the same name starring Burt Reynolds. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. . Locals and watermelon farmers all agree the festival has seen a lot of changes over the years. Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. It is something you are going to enjoy. The Johnson Brothers utilize a waterwheel transplanter for this part of the production. There were days when the brokers would buy them and we would load five or six trailer loads that would go out to Chicago and lots of other places. Gary explained. Cave City also has multiple banks, medical offices and pharmacy, a grocery store, several convenience stores government offices and Cave City Nursing Home. 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