HERMISTON, Ore.-Melon Fest in downtown Hermiston on August 22 had a little something for everyone – and lots of watermelon.
A rainy start to the day didn’t dampen the festival atmosphere as the community came out to celebrate all things watermelon.
“It’s going really well, it looks like its really well attended,” said Hermiston Mayor Doug Primmer. “It’s not too hot and it’s great to see everyone enjoying the day.”
Vendors included local businesses, such as C2 Permanent Jewelry and Charm Bar, Hoppalong Silver Company, Two Chicks Flower Market, and many more.
Several community organizations, including Horizon Project, Eastern Oregon Mission, and Friends of Umatilla County Firefighters #1 were also on hand.
Melon Fest got underway with a Rotary breakfast, and included an FFA animal showcase, face painting, a watermelon costume contest, live music from Musically Unstable, a band out of Lexington, Ore, a watermelon eating contest, seed-spitting contest, an obstacle course, Bucky the bull, a bouncy house, cornhole tournament, and bathtub races
“We’ve lived in Hermiston our whole lives, but this is our first time at Melon Fest,” said Omar Chaires, who was attending the event with his wife, Monica and two children, ages one and three. “It’s great and the kids are having fun.”
Held annually since 2019, Melon Fest is a community celebration put on by the Hermiston Downtown District and Hermiston Parks and Recreation.
“We’ve had great turnout, lots of people are out enjoying the day and snagging some watermelon,” said Brandon Artz, Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director. “We do the events and the Downtown District kind of spearheads the whole thing, they do a great job with volunteers and sponsors.”
New additions to Melon Fest 2026
Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) served as the title sponsor of Melon Fest this year, with representatives attending the event and community health resources available.
Melon Fest attendees also had the opportunity to step into the Money Machine Cash Box – an enclosed booth where participants can win cash, gift certificates, prizes, and more, courtesy of GSHCS.
“We had outstanding community turnout,” said Judy Currin-Pederson, a Hermiston Downtown District Board Member, owner of Lucky Endz Gifts in downtown Hermiston, and one of the organizers of Melon Fest. “We couldn’t ask for more.”
Other new additions to Melon Fest this year included a live watermelon carving demonstration by professional celebrity carver Roger Pope, of Boardman, as well as more kids activities, and an expanded car show.
“I was so excited for the opportunity to carve for Melon Fest,” said Pope. “This showcases all that’s great about Hermiston, this community, and Hermiston watermelon.”
Pope’s first experience carving watermelon came a year ago when he carved for the Umatilla County Fair, and he admits there’s still a learning curve the second time around.
“Watermelon rind is harder than a pumpkin,” said Pope. “The inside of a watermelon is softer than the inside of a pumpkin, though.”
Pope carved a Melon Fest logo with watermelons stacked on top displaying the year 2026.
Community competition
Melon Fest also featured a healthy dose of community competition, including a cornhole tournament, seed spitting contest, and bathtub races.
Violet Scott, of Stanfield, blew away the competition in the seed-spitting contest, launching a seed an astounding 21 feet.
Scott honed her championship technique in a previous seed spitting contest for her youth group, where she finished second.
“You have to make an O-shape with your tongue and hold the seed in the middle, then launch,” Scott said of her winning strategy.
Juicy Crew wins bathtub races
By race time in the early afternoon, all vestiges of rain were gone as competitors battled it out for bathtub supremacy under a blazing Hermiston sun.
Bathtub races are a Melon Fest fan favorite, and the 2026 edition did not disappoint. 16 teams comprised of two pushers and a driver seated in a tub of water competed in a series of timed runs, with the fastest teams moving on to preliminary heats, and, ultimately, the final run.
Juicy Crew pushed by Mitch Goldman and Jerrad Little, and piloted by Goldman’s son, Jack, outpaced the competition to emerge victorious at Melon Fest.
“This was fun and there was a good turnout,” said Goldman, of the races. “It’s great to hang out with the community and do something unifying.”
Juicy Crew was fast in the straightaways and managed to stay clean in the corners of the course to claim the Melon Fest Bathtub Racing Championship trophy.
“It feels really good,” said Little, as his team celebrated winning the bathtub races. “This is possibly the greatest accomplishment in my life so far.”
