Watermelons have long been a calling card for the City of Hope.
The Hope Watermelon festival features numerous activities including arts & crafts, food, entertainment and other family-oriented activities. Local civic clubs hold dinners featuring such down-home fare as locally grown smoked chicken and golden fried catfish. What else can you do at the festival? You can participate in a 5k race, participate in Watermelon Olympics, enter the "Watermelon Idol" talent contest, browse the car show, and have a blast in the Kidz Zone.
August 8-10, 2024
This year’s theme: COMING SOON!
MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US FOR THE WATERMELON FESTIVAL PARADE, Monday August 5th!
Rodney Atkins LIVE at the 48th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival!
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 15, with a special one-day “early bird” discounted general admission ticket price of $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-10.
Early bird tickets will be sold at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce from 8:00AM to 6:00PM or by clicking HERE!
After this one-day sale, advanced general admission tickets for the concert will be $25 for adults; day-of-show tickets will be $30. Children’s tickets will be $10 on the day of the show. All reserved seating tickets are $45.
Vendors & Concessions:
2024 Vendor Applications are OPEN
2024 Concession Application are OPEN
We WILL NOT offer one day only vendor spaces.
2024 festival hours of operation:
Thursday, Aug 8th: 12pm-9pm
Friday, Aug 9th: 9am-9pm
Saturday, Aug 10th: 9am-9pm
2024 Schedule of Activities & Events
THURSDAY, AUG 8TH
COMING SOON
FRIDAY, AUG 9th
COMING SOON
SATURDAY, AUG 10th
COMING SOON
2024 Watermelon Festival Concert Headliner: Rodney Atkins
The excitement is building as the 48th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival gears up to welcome multi-award-winning country artist Rodney Atkins as the headliner for this year’s highly anticipated concert event. Known for his chart-topping hits and genuine, down-to-earth charm, Atkins promises to deliver a memorable performance that will have festival-goers on their feet and singing along all night long.
Rodney Atkins, one of Country Music’s biggest stars, has reached remarkable heights in his career, including being named the Top New Male Vocalist at the ACM Awards. His single "Watching You" not only topped the charts but was also declared the Number One Song of the Decade by Country Aircheck, earning the songwriter a BMI “Million-Air” Award.
With an impressive track record boasting six Number One singles, eight Top 5 singles, and 3.8 billion career streams, Atkins continues to be recognized as one of the most powerful voices in Country Music. Atkins was the second most-played male artist of the decade overall. He has also sold over 11.4 million units and earned ten career Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum RIAA certifications to date, including his latest Gold-certified single, “Caught Up In The Country (feat. The Fisk Jubilee Singers),” which also set the record for the longest-running single (at the time) in Billboard Country Airplay history at 57 weeks. Atkins has performed on NBC’s TODAY Show, GMA’s Strahan & Sara, and FOX & Friends.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rodney Atkins to the 48th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival,” said festival organizer, Christy Burns. “His undeniable talent, combined with his genuine connection to his fans, makes him the perfect headliner for this year’s event. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and good old-fashioned fun!”
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 15, with a special one-day “early bird” discounted general admission ticket price of $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-10. Early bird tickets will be sold at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce from 8:00AM to 6:00PM or by clicking HERE!
After this one-day sale, advanced general admission tickets for the concert will be $25 for adults; day-of-show tickets will be $30. Children’s tickets will be $10 on the day of the show. All reserved seating tickets are $45.
For more information about the concert, contact the Hope Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at 870-777-3640.
