Cave City Watermelon Festival sees record attendance

Tammy Curtis, Managing Editor

There is no doubt that this year is one for the record books for Cave City.  Just four short months after watching their homes and businesses being strewn across the land in the March tornado, the same people who had rolled up their sleeves to help their family, friends, and neighbors clean up the debris were celebrating their successes.

The same business owners who were forced to relocate or completely rebuild their businesses, homes, and farms, were set up this weekend for the 45th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. Many did not believe that the festival would take place due to the amount of devastation the city had suffered just a few months prior. But as always, the area stood up and showed out as record crowds attended the festival from across the United States.

A few of the food truck vendors said they were sold out or running low on food and supplies before the Diamond Rio concert even ended on Saturday night, which is very rare. These vendors are professionals and know how much to plan for events of this magnitude, but were very surprised by their high sales.

The Prize Watermelon Auction generated $20,000 this year. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee decided to donate the money locally due to the amount of hardship its citizens had faced, and many are still facing. Thisvery generous donation will be divided amongst to the local school food pantry, community food banks and Ag for Autism.

The crowds loved the friendly competition in the watermelon games. Seed spitting and watermelon eating brought out a large crowd. There were a lot of participants this year. 

And of course, the feast, which happens at four o’clock every year on Saturday of the festival, had a line going all the way out to the restrooms. The quick-moving melon growers, who also donated these melons, were cutting watermelons as fast as they could. The pieces disappeared quickly from the tables. 

From the outset, the organizers of this event have worked diligently. Many of them were also on committees that helped with the tornado recovery during the most crucial days following the tornado, and had to set aside their plans for the festival. 

The community should be very proud of the turnout for one of the region’s largest festivals. They should also be proud of the people whom they call neighbors, friends, and businesses. So when you opt to order something from Amazon, Temu or even Shein, please think about these local businesses that do so much for us. They are the ones who sponsor local sports teams, step up to help anyone in need throughout the year, and those who serve us as firefighters, police, emergency responders, and more. 

Please consider shopping at their businesses and helping them. They are, after all, the ones who make all of the events, including the top-notch entertainment at the concerts and the carnival, a reality. 

This year also brought some new events, including the Watermelon Crawl, which the Cave City Area Chamber of Commerce organized. It drew a large crowd to the local businesses and added to the fun of the festival. Several prizes were awarded  from businesses that participated in the festival . 

When you drive through cave city and see what’s left of the sadness and despair these folks suffered in March, remember they are strong. They’ve come back strong and will be stronger longer.  

Below is a very touching poem written by local Heather Harris we felt perfectly outlines the impact the festival had on the town. 

“After the Storm, the Melon Grows”

In March the sky turned black with fear,

A roaring wind drew near.

A tornado with fury wide,

Tore through our town, and left none to hide.

The church steeple bowed, the old barn fell, shingles flew and silence swelled.

Homes were scattered, hearts were torn, in that long and haunted storm.

But small towns bloom from stubborn clay, and grit grew stronger by the day.

We patched the roofs, we cleared the trees, We found our footing on bloodied knees.

With calloused hands and hopeful eyes,

We looked beyond the broken skies.

And swore the storm would not define

The love that stitched this town in line.

This weekend, laughter filled the air, With scent of melon everywhere.

Kids with faces sticky-sweet, danced in puddles of summer heat.

Booths lined up with pride displayed,

The crafts, the pies, the food we made.

A parade rolled through where shingles flew, With tractors, & cars dressed in red white and blue.

The fields that once held scattered beams, Now brim with fruit and childhood dreams.

We honored all that we endured, And proved a spirit can’t be lured.

Away by wind or shaken ground,

Not in this brave and rooted town.

The storm may test, it may destroy,

But here we rise, rebuild, enjoy.

So raise a slice beneath the sun,

For healing, hope, and work well done.

Our town may bend, but we don’t break

We grow again for memory’s sake.

From shattered March to festival song,

We are small, but mighty strong.

-Heather Harris

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