Inaugural Watermelon Festival Coming to Redding

Get ready to groove to the watermelon crawl because the North State is hosting its inaugural Watermelon Festival. On July 22, 2023, Historic Hawes Farms will bring together a delightful blend of crafts, food, and outdoor entertainment that promises fun for everyone.

The craft fair at Hawes Farms kicks off at 11 a.m., featuring over 20 vendors with a wide variety of custom-made crafts, home decor, and outdoor decorations to explore at the different booths. It’s a treasure trove of unique finds.

The festival introduces an exciting addition to the farm: food trucks. Local favorites such as Holy Crepe, Anthony’s Mediterranean, Players Pizza, and Kona Ice will tantalize taste buds with their mouthwatering dishes. Fans of the local farmers market will be delighted to find Tamales Colima and Monica’s Mini Pancakes among the food options. And of course, Hawes Farms will be serving up its famous Kettle Corn. For those seeking an extra thrill, the Hawes Farms Express, Silver Spur Roller Coaster, and Go Karts will be open for ticket purchases. And let’s not forget the highlight of the day – watermelon-themed games and contests that will keep everyone entertained.

As for entertainment, the festival has a full day of performances lined up. Kicking things off at 11 a.m. is Woodland’s own Andrew Marshall, treating festival-goers to a blend of country music and rock that his band has playfully dubbed “outlaw gospel.” They will be followed at 1 p.m. by Heirloom, a unique string quartet that skillfully combines vocals and instruments for a sound that is truly one-of-a-kind. At 4 p.m., local country music artists Hill Country Truckers will take the stage, delivering traditional country tunes before Chico’s Main Street Band wraps up the performances.

But that’s not all – the festival’s headliner is none other than rising star Mark McKay. Having shared the stage with renowned artists like Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and the Eli Young Band, McKay has been making waves across the country with his band. Hawes Farms is thrilled to showcase this emerging talent.

“We’re excited to present our farm in a whole new light,” said Greg Hawes, owner of Historic Hawes Farms. “The Watermelon Festival kicks off our agritainment season, but we’ll still have our Sunflower Festival, our traditional fall festivities, and even a Country Christmas coming this December.”

For more information about the festival, including ticket details and updates, visit their website at www.HistoricHawesFarms.com/watermelonfestival. Get ready to make some sweet memories at the North State’s very own Watermelon Festival!