The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts and crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as smokey pulled pork and golden fried catfish. What else can you do at the festival? You can participate in a 5k race, participate in Watermelon Olympics, enter the "Watermelon Idol" talent contest, browse the car show, and have a blast in the Kidz Zone. 

Schedule of Events:
7:30am - Watermelon 5K, Don Still (870)397-1236
-Hope Fair Park front gate

8:30am - Melon Mile, Don Still (870)397-1236
-Hope Fair Park front gate

8:00am - Civitan Car Show
-Behind Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Stage

9:00am - Festival Opens
-Vendors: Outdoor/Coliseum/Horticulture Building/Covered Pavilion
10:00am-Concessions: Outdoor

9:00am - River Vally Tractor Kidz Zone Opens
-Inflatables
-GellyBall
-Bungee Trampoline
-Pony Rides
-Camel Rides
-Sno Cones
-Sno Cones

9:00am - Fishing Derby, City of Hope Parks and Recreation
-Huckabee Lake

9:00am - Rusty Wheels Engine Show Opens, Glen Scroggins (870)703-1374

9:00am - Rusty Relics Antique Tractor Club, Roger White (870)451-2096

9:30am - Money in the Haystack, Sponsored by Heather Doucet State Farm Insurance
-River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone

10:00am - Watermelon by the Slice Opens
-Big Tent

10:00am - Junior Watermelon Olympics
-River Valley Tractor Kidz Zone

10:00am - Watermelon Waddle Duck Races, Hope Piranhas Swim Team
-Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

11:00am - Hope Piranhas Swim Team Exhibition
-Hope Fair Park Swimming Pool

11:00am - Politically Correct Watermelon Eating Contest, Hosted by UAHT
-Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Stage

12:00pm - Watermelon Eating Contest for all ages
-Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Stage

11:30am-4:00pm - LifeShare Blood Drive

1:00pm - Junior Watermelon Idol, Hosted by Arnetta Bradford
-Farmers Bank and Trust Stage

1:30pm - Seed Spitting Competition, hosted by Dave Phillips
-Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center Stage

3:00pm - Watermelon Idol, Hosted by Arnetta Bradford
-Farmers Bank and Trust Stage

5:00pm - Nighthawk Band
-Farmers Bank and Trust Stage

The Lead Singers of Classic Rock, Legion Field
6:00pm-Gates open
6:30pm-2025 Junior Watermelon Idol and 2025 Watermelon Idol

6:30pm - Buzz Andrews Band

8:00pm -The Lead Singers of Classic Rock