Franklin County Watermelon Festival gears up
PHOTO BY SOMMER MORRIS - Oliver Morris gets ready for watermelon fun.

Franklin County, News, Russellville, Z - News Main, Z - TOP HOME
 By  María Camp Published 
8:18 pm Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Franklin County Watermelon Festival gears up

Now in its 42nd year, the Franklin County Watermelon Festival is a longtime favorite. This year’s festival takes place Aug. 18-19 in downtown Russellville. The festivities kick off Aug. 18 at 6:45 p.m. with the opening ceremony.

Reigning Watermelon Queen, Silvie Miller, will cut the first watermelon of the festival. 
 Friday’s musical entertainment features Tremayne at 7:00 p.m. and Velcro Pygmies at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s musical lineup features Rewind at 6:00 p.m., Austin Bohannon at 7:00 p.m. and Colt Ford at 8:30 p.m. 
 Other activities include contests, vendors and a car show.

The Franklin County Watermelon Festival car show takes place August 19 from 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., with prizes awarded throughout the day. For more information, call 256-412-5724. 
 A 5K and one-mile fun run will take place August 19 at 7:30 a.m., with registration at 6:45 a.m. at the Russellville High School field House. 5K registration is $25. One-mile registration is $20.

The event is hosted by the RHS cross-country team. The one-mile fun run takes place immediately following the 5K. 
 Additional festival features on Saturday include character guests from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., as well as contests and watermelon in the park from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Roxy’s “Dancing through the Decades” starts at 10:00 a.m. and runs through 5:00 p.m. Among the featured groups are Addie’s Flip Tip and Tap and Tara Greenhill’s students. Tickets cost $5 for one show or $10 for a day pass.

Also on Franklin County Times
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *