Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs current publicity chair. Other students moved into town and boarded with family, friends, or in boarding houses which were made available to entice more students to the school. (KAIT) - The Cave City Watermelon Festival is getting closer. The area now known as Cave City was originally situated entirely in Independence County, most of which was in Barren Township. 4,446 were here. Watermelon growing is not a new thing in Cave City, however. Heritage Bake Shoppe If you are looking for flavorful baked goods and deli sandwiches piled high with meat, cheese and all the toppings, swing by the Heritage Bake Shoppe. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. The Cave City Watermelon Festival will take place July 26-28 at the Cave City city park. They talked about their deep history of farming melons, the challenges, triumphs and even some humorous tales. Cave City seems in the middle of nowhere. Up until that point they had only planted seeds directly in the field. The Cave City Watermelon Festival gets underway Thursday. There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. The cave was both a great asset to the community and a source of mystery. KAIT Region 8 News:It doesnt quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. "Sometimes they do and they have for as long as I can remember," he said. "They thrive really well in hot weather so the hot May was really good for growth," Johnson said. In those days, there were no festival, growers association, or even a sticker brand to market the melons. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. Historic Downtown Hardy Loaded with unique shops and restaurants, downtown Hardy is a postcard community nestled along the Spring River. The Watermelon Parade is at 10 a.m. Live music begins at noon and features Deadwood Grove, followed by The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band. The profits from the crop later paid Phillips way through college. It is in honor of a grower who died unexpectedly last June. 167 and 115. Since 1980, they've. The goal was to have the young men take over the operation. The three-day festival will take place on July 28-30. That is a big deal to us. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. The men and women who work all year long to make the festival the largest in the area with some of the best food, entertainment and fellowship. Copyright 2018KAIT. Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. Gary recalled one incident where a broker offered his grandfather a few cents less per pound than he desired. Perhaps it runs deepest in the Carter family with roots that go back four to five generations for two growers. Watermelon Festival - The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. They offer indoor and outdoor dining and a menu that includes a little bit of everything. The Fourth of July Picnic at Cave City was another major attraction, bringing folks from all over the surrounding country. Phillip said the most labor intensive and important part of the production comes while preparing the soil. Ellis and Ernest Landers had the largest acreage planted in watermelons --- 45 acres. The Johnson Brothers also grow cantaloupes and typically employ four or five teenagers to help get the melons out each summer. Historical Marker An historical marker documenting the Civil War in Sharp County and the Sharp Family in the Civil War can be seen at the corner of West Main and Court Streets. We are very grateful that people like what we produce, Julie said. Roadside stands are found throughout the city. Cave City Watermelon Festival. . Gary said, During this time, they were going more for commercial production for selling them to large cities like Chicago. At that time growers rented stalls in a facility near the present day community center. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Evening Shade Farmers Market Stock up on some locally grown fruits, veggies and handmade goods at the farmers market held every Saturday morning. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. Source: http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs Share Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip &. Growers Cave City Watermelon Festival . From July 27-29 i n Cave City, Arkansas, you'll find a feast of watermelon courtesy of local growers; the website also notes that "Catfish dinners, pancake breakfasts, talent shows, watermelon judging contests, 5K runs, ice cream making contests, car shows and local entertainment have filled the event calendar" in previous years. For more information, visitwww.arkansas.com. Cave City bills itself as having the worlds sweetest watermelons. Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed full of fun and entertainment for the entire family.Activities include a children's fishing derby, 5K run, car show, pancake breakfast, parade, school alumni reunion, speed eating contest, seed . Located 15 miles north of Batesville, Cave City has several retail shops in its historic downtown area. You can even take a short side trip to check out their furniture and appliance store in Glencoe. After the plant sets the melon, or blooms, it is ready to harvest in 30-35 days. Phillip - 870-307-9632Gary - 870-283-2854. The first step of this epic watermelon road trip is to select a registered grower and make certain that they have melons available. The Taste of Chicago has a pretty exhaustive Wikipedia page, which is a pretty good indication that the event is practically built into the citys DNA. how to tie a cherry stem with ones tongue. It was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and during part of its early years housed Curia Lodge #144, F. & A. M. A little further north the community of Loyal had been established, near the present location of the Subway restaurant in Cave City, and at the intersection of US Hwy. 7 - The World's Sweetest Watermelons. The first mayor was J. T. Harrell, with W. A. Meacham as recorder. They are located 2 1/2 miles north of Cave City. Laman Bros. General Store (Photo from the Gary Perkey collection.). In the early 1890s, what was apparently the second church established in town was the Methodist Episcopal (or North Methodist) Church. We were all so excited. "Whenever people buy the watermelon, they need to make sure it has the registered trademark sticker, because if it doesn't, it's not the real . All rights reserved. Regardless, its high summer, and Im ready for a sweet treat. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings. Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! Most recognize Gary and Phillip as the Watermelon Men, but in reality, Johnsons melon production began long before the two men were even a thought. That Spring, Lester taught his sons the ins and outs of watermelon production that he learned from his own father. About Arkansas Tourism Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! Cave Citys watermelons arent touted as the sweetest in the world for no reason. For decades, Cave City has been known nationwide for its claim to fame, the sweetest watermelons. They were sold to brokers, simply by word of mouth, and transported across the nation. No matter which path you choose from Cave City, have fun yall and do the watermelon crawl. Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy are headlining the 2023 festival. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. Currently the Johnsons plant 15 acres each year with 1300 watermelon plants per acre. KAIT Region 8 News: There will soon be a new monument in Cave City to honor the town's veterans."We've actually been talking about it for several years off and on," Mayor Jonas Anderson said. That's saying somethingsince Johnson and his brother were raised in the watermelon fields as their parents also grew them. As one of Chicagos largest summer attractions since its founding in 1980, The Taste consistently draws over 1 million people, though at its peak it has drawn nearly 4 million, all of them there to sample food from a variety of restaurants from across the city. The First Baptist Church was organized in June of 1901. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip & Julie. Phillip Johnson and his brother have been farming watermelons over 40 years. Sadly, this year will be the first time the city will have to cancel the event due to health and safety concerns pertaining to COVID-19. It is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6, through Saturday, Aug. 8. But one common seed is the craving for the fruit of summer the watermelon. 2023 Ozark Gateway. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000. CAVE CITY, Ark. Older Post Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs. Calico Rock Arkansas Main Street Network will be hosting a Fundraiser for The Sean Hunt Memorial on March 11th from 11 am to 4 pm. 5 . Watermelons - Schedule your trip for mid-July through August and grab a watermelon or two from one of the registered growers. However, one farmer wants you to be aware of . The Johnson watermelon vine continued to spread, and Phillips parents, Lester and Verba Lee, eventually inherited the seed. The boys did as any good sons would and began to take on the responsibilities of the farm. Celebrating its 43rd year, the 2023 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. . You can buy the melons outside of the city, but supply is limited and there are imposters. Johnson says theyve seen more people at their stand and more people in the city in preparation for melon season and the festival. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. This three-day event will be held July 28-30th and will include entertainment, fun vendors, yummy food trucks, a parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, which is courtesy of the watermelon growers in the area.

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