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 No one will ever argue that watermelon blood doesn't run deeply in Cave City. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. Spring Dipper Cool off with a sweet ice cream treat at the Spring Dipper. Blueberry Fields Forever Judsonia, AR, 72081. There were days when the brokers would buy them and we would load five or six trailer loads that would go out to Chicago and lots of other places. Gary explained. Meachams Family Restaurant This restaurant has been around for over 40 years. Also, be sure to grab a piece of carrot cake if its on the menu. Kevin Moore Farms, 870-283-2043.Moore's stand is located on the north end of Cave City. Travelers will also find antique stores and flea markets. The continual hot weather has now put them about one week ahead of schedule in opening the stands. So many interesting treasures are held within these walls. In 1919, J. M. (Roe) Street became president and served in that capacity until his death in 1942. & Wendell Perkey Farms 870-283-4395, 870-283-5918.Located 2 miles north of Cave City on Highway 167. Circle B Farm Farms 10 YEARS IN BUSINESS (870) 307-0302 403 Brewer Hill Rd Batesville, AR 72501 2. | Privacy Policy This site is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds. by Themeansar, Johnson Brothers For the love of watermelons, Sharp County public service entities receive nearly $1.36 million from American Rescue Plan, NO!! These include learning optimal plant and row spacing and the biggest innovation since the beginning utilizing irrigation techniques. I have people from Dallas and Chicago drive all the way to Cave City, Arkansas just to come to our place get melons. "I think there were three people on the chamber of commerce that got [the festival] going," said. Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. The boys did as any good sons would and began to take on the responsibilities of the farm. Perkey Farms is a family owned and operating watermelon farm. On August 12th, 1925, Hugh and Edgar Laseter established a new standard for giant melons with their 136-lb winning watermelon. Digital Marketing and Design - The Richland Group. (KAIT) - The Cave City Watermelon Festival is getting closer. The annual Cave City Watermelon Festival is like a homecoming for some and a chance make new friends and feast on city's renowned melons for others. Prior to planting, they use a machine to lay down the black plastic and drip tape that will carry water to the plants after they are transplanted. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu, but the onion rings alone are worth the drive. An original postcard of the Crystal River Cave Camp as it appeared in the 1930s. 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. Patterson Brothers Farms 501-412-3819.Patterson's stand is located in Cave City, across from Double B's. I decided to carry on the tradition and raised my first solo melon crop the next spring. 2021 Cave City Watermelon Festival Set for July 29-31th April 29, 2021by KFFB 106.1 FM Cave City Watermelon Festival is gearing up for another great Festival. Annual student art exhibition is Feb. 27-March 17 at Lyon College Kresge Gallery, reception is March 2, Works of Lyon College Professor of Art Dustyn Bork featured in two Batesville exhibitions, Jacksonport State Park to host dinner, mock trial based on historic events Trial based on actual 1885 events and trial, Bubble, Bubble, Toil & Trouble: A Soapmaking Workshop Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:00am . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Watermelon Festival The 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival is sure to delight. The preparation is always crazy, especially this time of year, just on a good year, Johnson said. Since 1980, they've. 9:00am - 4:00pm: Cave City Cruziers Car Show - Cave City Park Registration from 9 - 12; Judging at Noon; Awards at 4:00 pm 10:00am: Watermelon Parade 11:30am: Welcome to the Festival! Only genuine Cave City Watermelons have our registered trademark sticker. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. He said, I will let them sit there and rot before I take that. Phillip laughed, recalling the story, And thats exactly what happened. Their grandmothers family also grew melons and peddled them door to door after hauling them by wagon to Batesville. Historic Places There are seven properties on the National Register of Historic Places located in Evening Shade. Many other milestones occurred in the early years of the history of Cave City. The profits from the crop later paid Phillips way through college. My grower of choice is Johnson Brothers and I can find all of the latest information regarding availability right on their Facebook page. They are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday Saturday and are located just outside Cave City on AR-230. At 5 p.m., the Prize Melon Auction to benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital will kick off . That congregation has continued to grow and is currently adding to its present structure to accommodate an ever-expanding membership. The Cave City Watermelon Festival is held every July over three days. Weve all just been working hard since we canceled last year, Johnson said. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000. The Watermelon Growers Games will take place at 3 p.m. at the Orilla Vallie Stage followed by the Free Watermelon Feast at 4 p.m. behind the Orilla Valley Stage. Not necessarily "scare-your-pants-off" adventure but the kind where you seek out new and exciting things. The melon stand is on Main Street next to Dollar General. Grab a cooler and gas up the tank because we are heading out in search of good eats, unique treasures and scenic vistas. It doesnt quite feel like summertime in Sharp County until the Cave City watermelons hit the stands and that happened this past week. Spring River Mammoth Spring is also a popular location for floating the Spring River. Cave City's activities in producing watermelons reach as far back as 1938, when a Melon Grower's Association for Sharp and Independence counties was organized at Cave City . That is a big deal to us. The harvest is the easiest part, according to the brothers. They talked about their deep history of farming melons, the challenges, triumphs and even some humorous tales. As the festival inches closer, melons are flying off of stands just as quickly as growers are putting them there. They platted off the town and reportedly gave land to other churches and for the establishment of a school. We are very grateful that people like what we produce, Julie said. 4,446 were here. Johnson says theyve seen more people at their stand and more people in the city in preparation for melon season and the festival. One of the most favorite and anticipated of these camp meetings was the holiness camp meeting held every year at Calamine by ministers of the Nazarene Church. Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). We were all so excited. "Business is very . Cave City melons have "Genuine" stickers, too. Record collectors dont miss a chance to browse their vintage selections! They both built homes (on the site of the current location of the Bank of Cave City and on the old bank property just to the north) and moved in by 1890. The Johnson Brothers also grow cantaloupes and typically employ four or five teenagers to help get the melons out each summer. Watermelon Growers Games - In front of Melon stage. Our watermelon growers work hard all year long to produce "The World's Sweetest" watermelons! 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 . These green rinded beauties are an iconic piece of many summer family get togethers. 2, 2019 at 5:14 PM PDT. Powhatan served as the Lawrence county seat for nearly 95 years. 7 - The World's Sweetest Watermelons. From July 13-16, pitmasters will provide various styles of mouthwatering barbecue to be enjoyed alongside performances by big names in country music (Zac Brown Band and Darius Rucker among them). While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! There should be enough melons for the 36th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival. First Security Bank, Member FDIC. She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. Click here to learn how owner Marc Herring overcame adversity during the pandemic, then stop by and shop the craft mall. We are excited to welcome everyone back this year.. Big Creek Man Cave Whether you are looking for sporting goods, ammo, hunting for a rare book, or just seeking a cool find Big Creek Man Cave is the place to shop. . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. John S. Gibson began hosting a competition for the largest melons in 1916. Procedures for Commercial/Industrial Construction. We made a little money and have been doing it ever since, Gary said. From July 29-31, hundreds of people will flock to Cave City to attend the festival for the first time in. Cave City's registered growers plan to keep the town's tradition alive, and start preparing for the 41st Watermelon festival. In August of 1958, Burnis Brown was the manager of the Cave City Watermelon Growers Association, which consisted of 127 members with 1,000 acres planted in watermelons. http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs. Order with an open mind, and you will enjoy an explosion of flavor like youve never had before. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected. The nearest post office, which had been located at Loyal, was physically moved to the new town of Cave City in 1892. So, were hitting the road searching for an official Cave City watermelon and checking out some other sites along the way. After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. Phillip added, We are not just selling a product. Julie loves adventure. Brothers, Gary and Phillip are 3rd generation watermelon growers. (KAIT) - Even though the Cave City Watermelon Festival was canceled, melon season has been going better than expected. My wife Britney and our 2 sons also help. In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. Pittsburgh is out here proving that it might be the city with the best sense of humor, mounting the Picklesburgh festival annually in partnership with Pennsylvania-based Heinz. 167. 2 personas estn hablando de esto. This will mark the festival's 30th year. The Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee has added a new event this year called The Chad Wooldridge Memorial Pitch Tournament. We know some will argue that Hope watermelons are better. It wasnt until the late 1990s that the Johnson Brothers began utilizing irrigation techniques in their fields. This line of the Laman family had settled on Curia Creek, about a mile south of present-day Cave City. 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