Vendors at this year’s Boonville Melon Festival included the Starmount Booster Club.
BOONVILLE — What goes better together than summer and watermelons? Throw in some live music, food and craft vendors and you’ve got the recipe for Boonville’s annual Melon Festival. Formerly known as the Boonville Bash, this summer gathering for community members and visitors hosted by the Boonville Business and Downtown Development Association, was rebranded in 2019 as the Melon Festival and it continues to be a crowd-pleaser.
“The festival has turned out great,” said local business owner Mitzi Davis. “The crowd has been great. We’ve created our own shade and that has been great. The food is wonderful. All of the vendors seem to be having a good time and people are enjoying themselves.”
Colorful tents, courtesy of Southland Trucking, offered shady spots for festival-goers to sit and enjoy the music.
This year’s festival included more than 30 vendors and seven food vendors as well activities for kids.
Several people took part in a vocal talent show at the start of the festival, a new addition to the event.
“I’m hoping that will catch on for next year,” said Kristin Johnson, BBDDA member.
Stormy skies looked as if the afternoon might get rained out but the storms passed on by leaving Melon Fest-goers free to enjoy the evening music with Phatt City.
The BBDDA offered special thanks to this year’s event sponsors: Southland Transportation, The Town of Boonville, Crissman Tree Service, Boonville Flour & Décor, G&B Energy, Unifi, Wolf, Reece & Lynch, 3 Brothers, Hollyridge Campground, Boonville Women’s Club, Midtown Gas & Grill, Farm Credit, Welborn Enterprises, CMS Insurance, Paint & Coatings LTD, Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership, Dance with Mitz’s, K&S Automotive, SignGypsies of Dobson, Pepsi, O’Reilly’s, and the Boonville Flour Mill.
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-258-4035 or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @news_shewrote.