The town celebration of the Fourth of July continued for many years, but fell out of favor in the last few decades. Today, people from around the world come to this small place each summer to help us do just that! About Arkansas Tourism Brothers Jonathan and Justin Hunter are the newest and youngest registered Cave City Watermelon Growers. There should be enough melons for the 36th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. Preferred listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. We are excited to welcome everyone back this year.. Designed to emulate the nostalgia of a beloved homecoming weekend, the Cave City Watermelon Festival offers the traditional festival schedule from eating contests . In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The harvest is the easiest part, according to the brothers. The area now known as Cave City was originally situated entirely in Independence County, most of which was in Barren Township. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. 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 Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. Brothers, Gary and Phillip are 3rd generation watermelon growers. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training. The memorial is being built near the city hall, under the big welcome sign. Many people played a part in creating Arkansas as we know it today. They proudly stand behind every melon they sell. Today not much remains but visitors will enjoy the two state parks located within the community. Black Rock Museum Although the museum has no set hours, contact the city to schedule a visit and learn about the history of this small town that sits in the gateway to the Ozarks. You can always check the Cave City Watermelon Festival's website to get information on each of the certified growers. So, were hitting the road searching for an official Cave City watermelon and checking out some other sites along the way. This will mark the festival's 30th year. We made a little money and have been doing it ever since, Gary said. This three-day event will include entertainment, a 5K run, pancake breakfast, parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, courtesy of the registered watermelon growers. The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. 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. Phillip explained, I am trying to tell Julie how to do it right, how to do it better. We did everything wrong we possibly could, Gary said. This often makes others think all Cave City melons are priced as high as that of the resellers who are selling them out of town. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. Outfitters include Spring River Oaks, Many Islands Camp and Canoe, and Southfork Resort. (Photo from Old Independence Regional Museum, Batesville). Visitors can view their work with paddlefish, sturgeon, Gulf Coast Striped Bass, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Johnson Brothers' Watermelon Patch, 2018 (Photo by Chad Graves). Cave City Watermelon Festival. As the festival inches closer, melons are flying off of stands just as quickly as growers are putting them there. by Cathy Drew | Jul 18, 2022 | Travel Tips, Cave City, Home of the Worlds Sweetest Watermelons. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Parks and Tourism. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip &. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas. 4:00pm: Free Watermelon Feast - Behind Melon stage. Prior to that, Phillip said, We just trusted in the Lord and the weather. Rainfall or lack thereof is detrimental to the production of watermelons. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. At 5 p.m., the Prize Melon Auction to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital will kick off . Johnson Brothers was established in 1976. It should be about enjoyment, about having a good time about being with people," said Phillip Johnson, "I'm proud to be apart of that, you know we need a lot more joy in the . In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. 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 . Live musicians such as Luke Stroud, the Farris Family Quartet, Legacy Five, Shane Thornton, and others will perform Thursday and Friday. Please contact businesses directly for the most recent hours before planning a destination. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. Lake Charles State Park Lakeside campsites, swimming, hiking and some of the best crappie fishing in the area draw a lot of people to Lake Charles. The First Baptist Church was organized in June of 1901. Over the years, small communities and churches sprang up in this area of Sharp and Independence counties, many of which established their own post offices and schools. In addition to coffee, you can munch on breakfast and lunch selections as you head through town. Brokers would stop and negotiate deals to purchase loads to sell elsewhere. However, one farmer wants you to be aware of . . Brian, Kimberly & Bricen Carter, 870-283-2147.Carter's stand is located on Highway 167, next to Buttercup's Restaurant. 71 were here. This changed the way the Johnsons produced their melons for the first time in history. 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. This year, it will kick off Thursday, July 25and run through Saturday, July 27 at the Cave City City Park. 1930's. The second school was located about two blocks off Main Street on what is now East Center Street, with the finally campus at its present site. CAVE CITY, Ark. Spring River Mammoth Spring is also a popular location for floating the Spring River. "I think there were three people on the chamber of commerce that got [the festival] going," said. Procedures for Commercial/Industrial Construction. Julie is one of the only growers who began utilizing social media to promote their products and she feels the videos she posts have helped more than anything. It is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 6, through Saturday, Aug. 8. In 1919, J. M. (Roe) Street became president and served in that capacity until his death in 1942. Cave City has held the tradition of celebrating the "world's sweetest watermelons" by holding a watermelon festival every summer since 1980. Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! Cave City School - All School Reunion Time: 12:00 p.m. Place: Cave City Middle School Cafeteria Watermelon Games - for the public Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: In front of the Melon Stage Watermelon Growers Games Time: 3:00 p.m. Place: In Front of the Melon Stage Free Watermelon Feast Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Behind the Melon Stage Gary, laughed and said he told his brother to get her some water. 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. Blueberry Fields Forever Judsonia, AR, 72081. It will include games, auctions, seed spitting contests, free watermelon feasts, a family wet zone park, and live entertainment, including headliner Tracy Byrd. Although the town of Cave City is some 150 miles from the Mississippi River, it has been said that the Crystal River rises and falls with the Mississippi River. Besides producing quality melons, Julie said the trademark sticker for registered users that brands the melons has helped bring customers to their stand. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri. My wife Britney and our 2 sons also help. Kevin Moore Farms, 870-283-2043.Moore's stand is located on the north end of Cave City. First Security Bank, Member FDIC. Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event for decades. 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. No matter which path you choose from Cave City, have fun yall and do the watermelon crawl. YP, the YP logo and all other YP marks contained herein are trademarks of YP LLC and/or YP affiliated companies. Main Street looking South. Thousands are expected to attend the three-day event. They bring with them lots of experience. Soon to be release is her third studio album, How Freedom Feels. No stranger to country fans, shes enjoyed chart success with the songs I Dont, Findin A Good Man and Isnt That Everything. Peck has cultivated a loyal fan base on the road, performing hundreds of shows both as a headliner and in support of country musics biggest names. "Grew better than I've probably ever seen watermelons grow.". Its crazy because theres so many different components to it.. The icy water makes for excellent trout fishing and a beautiful floating opportunity. My grower of choice is Johnson Brothers and I can find all of the latest information regarding availability right on their Facebook page. One of the main draws to Hardy is the Spring River and its a must if you enjoy floating. Its likely festival goers will hear him play Watermelon Crawl, a fitting song to help celebrate this Cave City festival. It has been said that most of the post offices and schools were about five miles distant, as that was about as far as people were willing to walk or ride a horse to get to these establishments! Wooldridge says even though COVID canceled the festival last year, it didnt cancel watermelon season, working from sunrise until sundown picking and selling watermelons. Many of these families moved to that area from Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, etc., and settled along the creeks and waterways in the more temperate climates away from the mosquitoes and malaria of Eastern Arkansas. Before implementing irrigation, Phillip explained, We spent lots of quality time with that garden hoe. He admitted he was very picky about how it was done. Copyright 2020 Newsup. Please try viewing this website in Edge, Mozilla, Chrome, or another modern browser. Circle B Farm Farms 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS (870) 307-0302 403 Brewer Hill Rd Batesville, AR 72501 2. CAVE CITY, Ark. The merchandise changes regularly, but if you check in often, you can find your favorite products at deep discounts. (Courtesy Joshua Fitzwater) "That was neat,". Drifters Coffee Co. Grab an incredible pastry and a cup of joe from this mobile/drive-thru coffee shop with a vintage feel. Johnson suggests you could always make the trip to Sharp County to visit one of the grower's own stands as well. They host weekly rodeos with events for everyone in the family every Friday night. Usually the famous watermelons are ready to go by July 4th but this year the crop is a . The Cave City Watermelon Festival gets underway Thursday. The cave supplied the drinking water for the local school, as well as serving as a veritable town refrigerator. Many families stored their milk, butter, and other produce in the cool cave to prevent them from spoiling. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. The Johnsons invite the public to enjoy the fruits of their harvest, arriving at their stand this week. by Themeansar, Johnson Brothers For the love of watermelons, Sharp County public service entities receive nearly $1.36 million from American Rescue Plan, NO!! The event has shrunk from 10 days down to just three this year (July 7-9), but thats plenty of time to eat your fill of local food. My dad, .Johnny Carter owned and operated Johnny Carter Farms and I helped him until he passed away in 2009. Family LP Farms (870) 368-7495 They carry everything you need for a successful fishing trip on the Spring River. . This year County Music Legend Tracy Byrd will be headlining the Free festival on Saturday Night. To return to the calendar and check out other months, click here. The first post master at Cave City was Thomas J. Wooldridge, whose term began December 16, 1892. Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have the registered trademark sticker. WEATHERFORD, TEXAS - The north Texas city was once one of the state's biggest watermelon growers (not so much anymore) and once featured an oversized watermelon sculpture outside its courthouse. Daily Deals This salvage grocery and general merchandise store is one of a kind! 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