33rd Annual NC Watermelon FestivalAugust 1 - 4, 2018Historic Downtown Murfreesboro, NC |
Little Mr. Farmer Contest
Open to 4-5 year olds. Contestants will ride in the Festival Parade on Saturday, August 4 at 10:00 and the contest will follow.
Application and additional details available from Ms. Debbie Edwards at (252) 398-3911.
Little Ms. Farmer Contest
Open to 4-5 year olds. Contestants will ride in the Festival Parade on Saturday, August 4 at 10:00 and the contest will follow.
Application and additional details available from Ms. Debbie Edwards at (252) 398-3911.
Little Princess Contest
On Saturday, August 4, the girls will ride in the 10:00 a.m. parade on a float and then compete in the contest following the parade.
Download Contest Guidelines
Advance registration is required. Download registration form here. Registration deadline: July 20, 2018
This contest is only open to girls who are 5 years of age by August 1.
Emma Cannon of Wendell was selected from a field of contestants as the 2017 N.C. Watermelon Queen. A graduate of N.C. State University with a major in Agricultural Science, Ms. Cannon will represent the industry at promotions, media events and festivals during 2017 all across the state. Ms. Cannon is the daughter of Charles and Dolly Cannon of Wendell.
Theme: "It's Electric"
Saturday, August 4, 2018 - Rain or Shine!
Main Street Murfreesboro - 10:00 AM
Parade Entry Form Download - Due July 30, 2018
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2018 Watermelon Festival Parade Grand Marshal:Nick Augostini, Asst. Director, Horticulture & Seafood
North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Nick has worked in the produce industry for over 40 years. For the past 20 years, he has worked for the state of North Carolina: 13 years as a marketing specialist, seven years as Assistant Director of Marketing for the Department of Agriculture, and two years as a produce buyer for the Department of Corrections. Prior to his work in North Carolina, Nick owned and operated a wholesale produce business in upstate New York. |
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Don Roberts, WAVY-TV 10
Don Roberts is WAVY-TV’s “Marathon Man.” He co-anchors 5 1/2 hours of news a day, first as co-host of the number-1 rated morning newscast in Hampton Roads: WAVY News 10 Today and WAVY News 10 Midday. Don joined WAVY-TV in 1989. Before that, he was the news and production director at radio station WRAP-AM. Don is an award-winning reporter, and a published author. Well known for his love of softball and chess, Don is a graduate of Towson University. Originally from Baltimore, Don and his family now reside in Newport News. |
2018 Watermelon Festival Parade Celebrity Marshal:
Saturday, August 4, 2018 - 10:00AM
Race begins at 10 AM sharp. Course closes at 11 AM.
Cost is $25 before August 5, $30 on race day. Race day registration and pre-registered number pick-up begins at 8:45 AM on the lawn of Murfreesboro Baptist Church (200 W. Main St.).
Now in its 13th year, the NC Watermelon Festival 5K has become one of the most popular summer road races in northeastern North Carolina. Runners lead off the annual Watermelon Festival parade down Main Street in historic Murfreesboro, then wind their way through the campus of Chowan University and the lakefront residential part of town. Our 5K course is USTAF certified (NC-06024-PH).
All proceeds from the race go to support summer children's reading programs at the Elizabeth Sewell Parker Public Library in downtown Murfreesboro.
All registered 5K participants will receive an official Murfreesboro watermelon. The first 100 participants are guaranteed official race shirts. Awards will be given to overall men's and women's champions, and 1st/2nd/3rd place finishers in each age category: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.
Please send any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Entertainment Schedule
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
7:00 PM - Jim Quick and Coastline Band
Thursday, August 2, 2018
7:00 PM - Mikele Buck Band
Friday, August 3, 2018
7:00 PM - The Janitors
Saturday, August 4, 2018
7:00 PM - Pizazz
2018 Sponsors
Platinum Sponsorship
Silver Sponsorship
Murfreesboro Farms, Inc.
Business Patron
Bryant & Lassiter Septic Tank Service
Expressions by Tim and Lorrie
Hill Realty
Napoli's Pizza
NC Farm Bureau - Hertford County
Nucor Steel Hertford
WDLZ - Earl - 98.3 Murfreesboro
WPTM - Maverick - 102.3 Roanoke Rapids