On Saturday, July 25, take a short drive from almost anywhere in the Mid-Columbia to Irrigon, Ore. Bring the family and find something for everyone to enjoy at the Irrigon Watermelon Festival — “A Sweet Day on the River,” sponsored by Pollock & Son Watermelons.
In 1984 a group of local ladies wanted to celebrate their community and one of its strongest attributes, watermelon farming. Irrigon still celebrates the sweetness of the region’s watermelon harvest annually — and, most of all, celebrates its community spirit.
There’s nothing better than a sweet, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. And there’s no better time and place to do it than a July day in Irrigon. The hot days and cool nights early in the growing season along the Columbia River give locally grown melons an unusually high sugar content.
This year’s festivities will include a downtown parade at 10 a.m., live entertainment, craft vendors, new food vendors with tons of menu choices, kids’ games, boat rides, a mechanical bull, axe throwing, a car show by the river and much more.
Finally, you’ll want to stay until dusk and round out the day by enjoying a fantastic fireworks display.
For photos, updates and more information, visit Irrigon Watermelon Festival on Facebook.