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).

2019 Melon Contest

GRAND CHAMPION

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

Carter Parnell

CRIMSON SWEET 47.6 lbs.

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

Carter Parnell

47.6 lbs.

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

Jenny Parnell

33.0 lbs.

HEAVIEST MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

Morgan Parnell

Jubilee 53.2 lbs.

BEST JUBILEE MELON

Jane Youmans

46.2 lbs.

BEST OTHER MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

Sara Beth Thomas

Starbrite Variety 49.8 lbs.

2019 Business & Home Decoration Winners

Business 1st Place

Tompkins Original

Business 2nd Place

Business 1st Place

Veteran Owned Real Estate

Business 3rd Place

Business 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Dunamis Karate

Home 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Picture To Be Displayed (TBDisplayed)

Joyce Horres

Home 2nd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 2nd Place

Nancy Brenner

Home 3rd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 2nd Place

Picture To Be Displayed (TBDisplayed)

Gordan Rhoden

June 20-28 Watermelon Festival cancelled

Festival History

History Highlights

In 1993...

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

2019 Festival Parade

2019 Miss/Master Pageant

2019 Kiddie Parade & Children's Day

2019 Melon Contest

GRAND CHAMPION

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CRIMSON SWEET

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

HEAVIEST MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST CHARLESTON GRAY

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST OTHER MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

BEST JUBILEE MELON

2019 Taste of Hampton

2019 Craft Contest and Display

2019 Business & Home Decoration Winners

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Business 2nd Place

Business 1st Place

Business 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Business 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 1st Place

Business 3rd Place

Home 2nd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 2nd Place

Home 3rd Place

Home 1st Place

Home 2nd Place

2019 Battle of the Towns

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