Franklin County Watermelon Festival returns soon
News, Russellville, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - TOP HOME
 By  Staff Reports Published 
1:26 pm Friday, August 9, 2024

Franklin County Watermelon Festival returns soon

The Franklin County Watermelon Festival boasts non-stop musical entertainment, watermelon contests and more, including the presentation of the Watermelon Queen, arts and crafts vendors, an antique car and truck show, 5K and fun run, free wedges of juicy watermelon, youth performances, themed festival T-shirts for sale and more in downtown Russellville.

Entertainment
The opening ceremony will be Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Friday performances will include Tremayne at 7 p.m. and LOVER: An Eras Tour Experience at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday begins with the car show and 5K/fun run at 7 a.m. followed by festivities all day. Main stage music amps up at 6 p.m. with Rewind, followed by Austin Bohannon at 7 p.m. and Colin Stough at 8:30 p.m. For more information visit https://franklincountychamber.org/festivals-2/watermelon-festival.

Road closures will be in effect beginning Aug. 15 at 3 p.m. (ending Aug. 17 at 11:59 p.m.)

Thursday – North Jackson Ave. from Lawrence St. to Lauderdale St. and West Franklin St. from North Jackson Ave. to North Washington Ave.

Friday – 8 a.m. until Sunday morning. – North Jackson Ave. – From Lawrence St. to Cotaco St. and North Washington Ave. from West Franklin St. to West Lauderdale St.
Saturday – 6 a.m. until after the car show – South Jackson Ave. – from Lawrence St. to Marion St.

The Russellville Police Department has issued a reminder not to drive around any barriers/cones that are marking closed roadways.

Parking
The lot behind State Farm at North Washington Ave./West Franklin St. is only open to Watermelon Festival vendors. For questions or assistance, the Russellville Police Department can be contacted on their non-emergency line, 256-332-2230.

Also on Franklin County Times
Oliver wants 5% pay hike for his staff
Main, News, Russellville
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
August 12, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver hasn’t seen much turnover within his department lately and he wants to keep it that way. Oliver ...
Flock council policy faces vote Monday
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 12, 2026
RED BAY —A second Flock Safety automated license plate reader has been installed as the city prepares for a special meeting Monday on a proposed polic...
Local water systems have security measures in place
Main, News, Russellville, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
August 12, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — As cyberattacks on U.S. water systems climb nationwide, local officials say a combination of rigorous safety protocols and old-fashione...
Alabama must champion spirit of civics education
Columnists, News, Opinion
August 12, 2026
Alabama has earned some well-deserved credit for taking steps to combat civic amnesia. State law mandates that students pass a 100-question citizenshi...
AERA holds annual district meeting
Columnists, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
August 12, 2026
Retired educators may have left the classroom, but they certainly have not stopped serving their communities. That was evident at the Alabama Educatio...
Forever Wild to acquire 120 acres in Colbert
News
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
August 12, 2026
CHEROKEE — The Forever Wild Land Trust is moving forward with plans to acquire additional property in Colbert County that would expand public hunting ...
30 years of caring for Little Tigers
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 12, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — When Rhonda Miller opened Little Tigers Daycare in 1996, about 15 children attended during the first two weeks. Thirty years later, the...

Leave a Reply

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