Watermelon Festival gets $5k from state

By Staff
Jason Cannon, Franklin County Times
The entertainment for this year's Watermelon Festival hasn't been booked yet, but thanks to a grant from the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, the list of potential acts got a huge shot in the arm.
The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce was awarded $5000 to help attract and pay for entertainment for the August event and chamber director Lisa Stockton said those funds can go a long way.
"What it does is give you the ability to go after a more well-known name or group," she said. "A lot of times, if they're not booked for the weekend, or they're close by, you can negotiate with them."
This year's wish list includes Exile, Highway 101, Johnny Lee and Diamond Rio.
"We're still talking to booking agents and seeing who is available right now," she said.
This year's award marks the first time in more than five years Franklin County has been able to secure funds from the state. In year's past, funds from the sale of watermelon festival t-shirts has helped support the cost of entertainment.
"This grant is a huge help," Stockton said. "I just want to thank Sen. Roger Bedford and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow for helping make this happen."