43rd annual Carytown Watermelon Festival to bring sweet traditions back to Richmond
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond can get a sweet slice of summer during the 43rd annual Carytown Watermelon Festival on Sunday, Aug. 10.
The free festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Cary Street, will feature more than 100 vendors, live music on several stages, a kids zone and 3,000 watermelons!
Bowls of watermelon will be for sale for $2 with proceeds benefitting local ACCA Shriner's.
Managing partner for Three One One Productions, Mike Murphy, has been organizing the festival for 17 years. He says small business owners started the event more than 40 years ago.
"Oddly enough, it was sidewalk sale tactic that merchants would put tables of watermelon out to attract customers during the dog days of summer, and the idea just continued to grow," Murphy said.
Attendees can expect several road closures in the area from 2 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday including:
- West Cary Street from North Nansemond Street to Arthur Ashe Boulevard
- Connected side streets on both sides of W. Cary Street (to Ellwood and Parkwood Avenues)
A live music schedule and festival map can be found on the official Carytown Watermelon Festival website.
