South Carolina Watermelon Festivals in 2024:  Find a Watermelon Festival Near You!

Looking for a Watermelon festival in South Carolina in 2024? (just scroll down the page)There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the Watermelon festivals in South Carolina we can find are listed on this page! If you love strawberries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm always looking for more Watermelon festivals! Please write me, if you know of any to add!  I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website. 

Always click on the links to the festival to confirm this year's dates; weather and other conditions could cause a change at the last minute. They may change or cancel at the last minute. . If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Click here for the form to add a festival and have detailed information; or click here if you have general information and are not connected with the event!

South Carolina 2024Watermelon Festivals Festivals - Where, When and More Details!

South Carolina

Watermelons typically ripen from June (in northern Florida and Texas) through July, August  and September in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest and New England. July and August dominatesas the months for Watermelon production (and festivals) Unlike strawberries, which grow almost anywhere, watermelons are grown commercially far fewer states, since they require warmer temperatures and a much longer season.

There are two general types of Watermelon festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Watermelon festival held at and by a farm. They are different in what they offer, and community festivals tend to be less expensive so they are grouped separately. (of course not all states and areas have both.)
Following the festival listings are links to our easy to follow directions about making Watermelon jam, freezing watermelons, Watermelon pies and much more.

Community Watermelon Festivals

• Hampton County Watermelon Festival - over 75 years running, June 15th - 24th, 2018
  Pine St., Varnville, NC.  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). On Friday:
  Taste of Hampton County 7 pm Wade Hampton H.S. School Cafeteria Children 6 and below Free, Age 7 and up $5.00
  Free Melon Slices on the Courthouse Square Fountain
  Carnival 5 Pm - 10 Pm Behind Varnville  Town Hall, Fee for Games & Rides
  Saturday
  Arts & Crafts & Food Vendors All Day Courthouse Grounds
  Parade Lineup 8 Am 9:45 AM Pine St. in Varnville
  Melon Judging at 9 Am Hampton Gazebo Free Admission
  Parade at 10 Am on Hwy # 278 from Varnville to Hampton, Free Admission
  Free Melon Slices  12:00 - 2 pm Courthouse Square Free Admission.
• Pageland Watermelon Festival - July 20-21, 2018
  128 North Pearl Street, Pageland, South Carolina 29728. Phone: (843) 672-6400. Email: darron.kirkley@pagelandwatermelonfestival.com.. The Pageland Watermelon Festival is an annual celebration produced by the Pageland Chamber of Commerce. Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
  
• Winterville Watermelon Festival - August
  Winterville, SC. Email: melontime@yahoo.com. 

Farm Watermelon Festivals

In addition to community and church festivals, some private farms have their own Watermelon festivals.  See each farm for this year's dates (they often do not announce them until the end of May). They usually have PYO strawberries then, too.  Also, scroll down to see the links to recipes, freezing, canning and jam making directions at the bottom of the page.

• We will be adding these as we find them;  Please write me, if you know of any to add!

Related Watermelon Information: Watermelon jelly and Pickled watermelon rinds

Besides eating them fresh, watermelons make two great preserves which are really easy to make with these illustrated, step-by-step instructions:

• Pickled watermelon rinds are sweet and delicious!. See this page for the easy recipe).
• Easy watermelon jelly recipe.

 

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!