• Home
  • Sponsors
  • Events
  • Entertainment
  • Royalty & Belles
  • Contest Winners
  • Photo Gallery
  • Melon Merchandise
  • Applications
  • Committee
  • History
  • Other Festivals
  • More
    • Home
    • Sponsors
    • Events
    • Entertainment
    • Royalty & Belles
    • Contest Winners
    • Photo Gallery
    • Melon Merchandise
    • Applications
    • Committee
    • History
    • Other Festivals
  • Home
  • Sponsors
  • Events
  • Entertainment
  • Royalty & Belles
  • Contest Winners
  • Photo Gallery
  • Melon Merchandise
  • Applications
  • Committee
  • History
  • Other Festivals

2023 June 19-24 Watermelon Festival

2023 June 19-24 Watermelon Festival 2023 June 19-24 Watermelon Festival 2023 June 19-24 Watermelon Festival

Theme

The Past, Present & Future

of Education in Hampton County


More information coming soon!







Festival History

History Highlights

  

Going back to the earliest celebrations, among the best attended attractions is always Friday night’s street dance in Hampton. But the crowning event of every Watermelon Festival, of course, is the Miss Coastal Empire pageant. Many a Palmetto State beauty has added to the scenery, including the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond’s wife, who came as Miss South Carolina (Nancy Moore of Aiken) in 1966, to the 24th Watermelon Festival.

In 1993...

the festival expanded to eight days, “Sunday to Sunday.” Opening ceremonies were coupled with a new event called “Festival Family Fun Day,” sponsored by the Hampton County Chamber of Commerce and held at Lake Warren State Park. The expansion made the Watermelon Festival the third longest festival in the state.
 

A new beauty is picked to be queen of the Coastal Empire every summer, while the same old King Watermelon reigns in glory! 

Excerpts from "The World’s Original Watermelon Festival" By Martha Bee Anderson

  

Hampton County is the home of the world’s original Watermelon Festival. Since 1939, the Hampton County Watermelon Festival has grown to become South Carolina’s oldest continuing festival. From the beginning, it has been a celebration of, for, and by the people of this friendly Lowcountry County, timed to the melon harvest every summer. The tradition was interrupted only twice, first during World War II (1943—45) and again during the Korean War (1951).

2022 Festival Parade

Honoring Our Health Care Heroes

2022 Business & Home Decoration Winners

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Varnville Chiropractic Clinic

Business 2nd Place

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Palmetto State Bank


Business 3rd Place

Business 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Lowcountry Seafood

Home 1st Place

Home 1st Place

Business 3rd Place


Debbie Horres

Home 2nd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 2nd Place


Elaine Rooker

2022 Battle of the Towns

    2022 Festival Parade lineup

      Get Festival Updates

      Email us to be added to our updated events list next year.

      Share comments and ideas to help us enhance our festival

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      Copyright © 2020 Hampton County Watermelon Festival - All Rights Reserved.

      Powered by GoDaddy