The Dresden Melon Festival is a summertime tradition, held along the riverbanks of the Muskingum River at the Dresden River Park, 36 E Muskingum Ave. This annual all-day event celebrating Dresden’s melon-growing heritage will take place on Saturday, August 5. Admission is $1 until 4:00 p.m. and $2 after, all ages are welcome as there is something for everyone to enjoy!
New this year is a cornhole tournament! Registration begins at noon (you can pre-register through the Scoreholio app or by contacting Mellisa at 740-683-3195) and bags fly at 1:00 p.m. The cost of entry is $40 per team and a maximum of 16 teams can enter. This is a double-elimination tournament. 16 Sets of boards were made and provided by the Tri-Valley Vocational Agriculture Students and their instructor, Brian Merce, for the tournament. Teams must bring their own bags. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.
Many traditional Dresden Melon Festival activities are also on the agenda for the day including the melon derby, smallmouth fishing tournament, 5K/10K and Kids’ 100 Yard Races, a performance by the Tri-Valley High School Marching Band, cruise in, craft show, kids games, petting zoo, bounce house, and of course, melon eating and seed spitting contests. See the schedule of events below for times.
After a day of Melon Festival fun, wind down with some evening tunes from The Sticks & Stones, Barefoot McCoy, and Appalachian Outlaws. Music begins at 3:30 p.m. A beer garden, sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion, will also be available just before the evening entertainment takes the stage.
Parking is available at the TVHS parking lot. A shuttle service is provided and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about this year’s Dresden Melon Festival head to dresdenmelonfestival.com or the festival’s Facebook page.
MELON FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
EVENTS AT BOAT LAUNCH AREA:
5:30 a.m. – SMALL MOUTH TOURNAMENT SIGN-IN (Contact Matt Wagner 740-252-1430)
6:00 a.m. – LAUNCH SMALL MOUTH
9:15 a.m. – KID’S 100 YARD RACE
9:30 a.m. – 5K/10K RACE
10:00 a.m. – FLAG RAISING/TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BAND PERFORMS
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – CRUISE IN (Contact Jeff Garver 740-607-8276)
RIVER PARK AREA:
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CRAFT SHOW
12:00pm – 4:00 p. m. KIDS’ GAMES and FACE PAINTING
12:00pm – 4:00 p.m. BOUNCE HOUSE
MAIN STAGE AREA:
1:00 p.m. – Corn Hole Tournament (Contact Mellisa at 740-683-3195)
1:30 p.m. – MELON DERBY (Contact Larry Sceurman 740-297-1649)
2:00 p.m. – SMALL MOUTH WEIGH-IN
2:30 p.m. – KIDS MELON EATING/SEED SPITTING CONTEST
3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. – SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION BEER GARDEN
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT:
3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. THE STICKS & STONES
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. BAREFOOT MCCOY
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. APPALACHIAN OUTLAWS
