The Return Of The Original Watermelon Festival At Downtown Wichita Falls Original Farmers Market

A year, or so, ago, a dispute at the downtown Wichita Falls Farmers Market caused a rogue group to split from the existing Farmers Market to start up a new Farmers Market a few blocks north of the original Farmers Market.

The rogue Farmers Market is not in a nice facility, with an outdoor plaza, such as exists at the original Wichita Falls Farmers Market. 

Last week this town's only newspaper, the Wichita Falls Times News Record had a headline saying Watermelon Festival returns to Wichita Falls Farmers Market.

The Watermelon Festival is the funnest festival I've experienced in this town. So, seeing that headline made me happy.

And then I read the article.

The Watermelon Festival took place this past Saturday at the rogue Farmers Market, not the original Farmers Market.

So, I did not go get myself some watermelon on Saturday.

Then yesterday I got an email which included that graphic you see above. Make note of "The Original" part of the graphic.

Here is the text from the Watermelon Festival email...

12th Annual Watermelon Fest

The Original Watermelon Fest returns to the Downtown Wichita Falls Farmers Market on Saturday, July 29th from 9am - 1pm, hosted by the Board of Directors of Downtown Wichita Falls Development.

Entertainment:

FREE Watermelon Slices - 10AM - 1PM or until we run out

Melon Bar

Seed Spitting Contest - 11AM

Watermelon Eating Contest - 12PM

Fruit Carving by Earl Carter

Watermelon volcanoes and Mini Catapults by CrashWorks

Live Music by TriFikeda

Shopping:

Watermelon margaritas by the Traveling Tavern

Frozen watermelon wine drinks by OG Cellars

Watermelon pie by Pies on the Side

Watermelon soap by The Front Porch Farm

Watermelon earrings by Wildflower Clay Co.

and more watermelon inspired handmade goods!

_____________________

Watermelon pie? That does not sound good to me. Watermelon margaritas and frozen watermelon wine drinks might be tasty.

COVID killed the Watermelon Festival, along with other festivals, like the Blackberry Festival, which was another fun one, with real tasty blackberry cobbler.

The watermelon seed spitting contest is amusing. I do not remember seeing a watermelon eating contest at the previous Watermelon Festivals I've been to. I have zero clue was a watermelon volcano might be, or mini catapults.

Next Saturday is currently scheduled to be HOT, over 100. If I remember correctly the interior space at the Farmers Market is air conditioned. That or it has multiple ceiling fans. 

Saturday At The Wichita Falls Farmer's Market

I needed to get new reading material on this 3rd Saturday of the 2022 version of June. So, it was to downtown Wichita Falls I went this morning.

And, since it is only a couple blocks from the library parking lot, after checking out some books, I walked to the Wichita Falls Farmer's Market.

The Farmer's Market was busy. The first time since the COVID nightmare that the Farmer's Market seems back to normal. There seemed to be more arts and crafts type vendors than farmers selling produce.

The guy in the blue shirt, on the right, sitting down, is playing a piano. The sound of the piano playing was amplified, making for a festive sound track for the Farmer's Market.

The above is inside the Wichita Falls Farmer's Market building. As you can see, lots of arts and crafts, with no farmer's produce to be seen. Well, seen in the photo. To the right there was a farmer selling watermelon, onions, cabbage and tomatoes, among other stuff produced on a farm.

Next month the Watermelon  Festival happens at the Wichita Farmer's Market. I have gone to that event twice. It's a fun one. Particularly if you like watermelon, which I do. That and the watermelon seed spitting contest is highly entertaining.

Thunderstorming is on the agenda for this evening...

Saturday At Wichita Falls Farmers Market Looking For McNutty Style Big Beautiful Buns

This morning I made mention to Thelma McNutty that I was going to the library this morning, along with possibly going to the nearby Saturday Farmers Market, if it were open, and take a walk around the block to look at, once again, the World's Littlest Skyscraper.

Wichita Falls having the World's Littlest Skyscraper may be the town's primary claim to fame.

It is an impressive structure, as you can clearly see. 

I was surprised to see the Farmer's Market totally open. I knew it had been shuttered due to COVID. Don't know how long the Farmers Market has been back up and running.

The interior space was full of vendors. And the outdoor space also had multiple vendors.

There were a lot of free samples being handed out. But, I am wary of such, in this COVID era. But I did try some lamb sausage, due to the fastidious way the lamb samples were being handed out.

 Another view of the outdoor vendor area. Live music was also adding to the festive mood.

When I mentioned I was going to the Farmers Market, Madame McNutty asked if cinnamon rolls were sold there. I replied that on previous visits I do not recollect seeing any bread products. Not that such would have left a lasting impression upon my memory.

McNutty is well known in Central Virginia, centered in Appomattox, for her Big Beautiful Buns, usually of the cinnamon roll variety.

I saw no cinnamon rolls today, but I did see a lot of similar products, because this visit I was looking for them. Above a pair of outdoor vendors had a variety of bread type products. I did not inquire to get more specific.

And then inside the Farmers Market building we had HEAVENLY MANNA selling heavenly bread.

Another look at various vendors vending inside the Farmers Market building.

The lady above could be an aged doppleganger of the aforementioned McNutty, also inside the Farmers Market building, selling a wide variety of stuff, from catnip to cookies.

So far, this has been my exciting next to last Saturday of the 2021 version of November...