By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County Watermelon Festival is just around the corner.
This year's festival is bringing back all the familiar happenings and adding new things to the mix.
Executive Director for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Cheryl Bradford said the festival is bringing back many things from the past and adding several new things.
"I am most excited about the new things we are adding to the festival this year," Bradford said.
New events include an antique tractor show and entertainment at the Roxy Theater on Saturday.
The country group, Shenandoah, will be the headlining entertainer on Friday for the festival.
The show will be opened by BPM, formerly known as Bullet Proof Mushrooms, and the Kerry Gilbert Band featuring special guest Zac Hacker.
"The entertainment begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and we expect Shenandoah to go on about 9 p.m.," Bradford said.
Bradford said all of Saturday's daytime entertainment will be in the Roxy Theater so people attending the festival will have a place to cool down and rest from the heat.
"The chamber has teamed with the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council to open the Roxy for live entertainment on Saturday," Bradford said.
Performers in the Roxy include the Franklin County Idol winners, Savannah Mills, a Mexican Dance ritual and the presentation of the Watermelon Pagent winners and the billboard contest winners.
The entertainment will wrap up with local artist Joseph Baldwin, who will be selling CDs and t-shirts outside of the Roxy on Saturday.
Bradford said the nighttime entertainment on Saturday will begin with another local artist Jacob Green, His Song, from Nashville, River City Quartet and the band Rewind.
"I am really excited about the entertainment this year," Bradford said.
"We have managed to line up several great entertainers for the festival."
Bradford said the chamber recently received another shipment of t-shirts and there is a good selection of colors and sizes available now at the chamber office.