Free watermelon to be served beginning at 11 a.m.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Wet wipes and the front of shorts will be working overtime this weekend as thousands of people will flock to Vining for the 49th annual Watermelon Day celebration. By mid morning, the town of about 80 people will grow at least 20 times in size as people from across the region stop by for one of the biggest small town celebrations in the area. 

The event, which includes a 5k run, free watermelon and a large arts and crafts fair will get underway at 8 a.m. with the annual “Run for the Melon” 5k/10k. At the conclusion of the race, participants will get their first taste of free watermelon for the day. 

The arts and crafts fair will begin at 9 a.m. and go through 4 p.m., while Nathan’s Old Time Band will get the streets rocking as they will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Memories” by Steve Worner will perform from 1-4 p.m., while bingo will get underway at 12 p.m. 

A bean bag tournament will be held at 1 p.m. near the Vining Grill and kids games will get underway at 1:30 p.m. at the community center. The car show will be held from 2-6 p.m. at BigFoot Gas and Grocery and a number of other activities will be held throughout the afternoon.

Of course the highlight of any Watermelon Day will be the free watermelon served by the slice. The free watermelon will be served starting at 11 a.m. and will be distributed until the last seed is spit in the afternoon.

The big parade will get underway at 7 p.m. and the movie in the park, featuring “Abominable,” will be shown at the community park beginning at 9:15 p.m. A street dance and raffle drawing will bring the event to a close at 9 p.m.