MONTROSE WATERMELON FESTIVAL

Watermelons cut as Montrose Festival begins

Umthun named Princess of 78th annual weekend event

Ariel Sheets, 7, Montrose, in orange, along with other children take part in a watermelon eating contest during the 78th Montrose Watermelon Festival, Thursday, August 17, in Montrose. The festival which will serve 10 tons of watermelon runs through Saturday night.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Grace Umthun, 10, Montrose is crowned the 2023 Montrose Watermelon Princess during the 78th Montrose Watermelon Festival, Thursday, August 17, in Montrose. The princess contest was sponsored by the Montrose Health Center and Montrose Double Dipper Ice Cream shot. The festival which will serve 10 tons of watermelon runs through Saturday night.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Terry Wilson Jr., 5 Keokuk, salts his watermelon during the 78th Montrose Watermelon Festival, Thursday, August 17, in Montrose. The festival which will serve 10 tons of watermelon runs through Saturday night.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

John Pieper holds his three-year-old daughter Amari as they go down the Fun Slide during the 78th Montrose Watermelon Festival, Thursday, August 17, in Montrose. The festival which will serve 10 tons of watermelon runs through Saturday night.

Photo by John Lovretta/Special to Pen City Current

Posted Friday, August 18, 2023 6:36 am

PCC Staff

MONTROSE - The annual Montrose Watermelon Festival kicked off Thursday night with coronations, salt shakers and juicy red fruit.

The Crowning of the festival princess was held with Grace Umthun taking the title among 15 contestants.

Those included Brooklyn Rudd, Grace Umthun, Ellie Caboth, Ava Longanecker, Aria Sheets, Mallory Weirather, Sofia Hamelton, Aalia Smajlovic, Aniyah Jones, Ashlyn Debrackeleire, Bella Beelman, Jaylynne Dodson, Brielle Baum, Henley Hawk, Emori Stanford Altemus.

Friday activities will begin at 5 p.m. with the carnival and bingo games, along with the firefighters’ fish fry at the Ivor Fowler center.

At 6 p.m. Friday, the St. Barnabas Choir takes the stage followed by a watermelon eating contest at 7 p.m. and then Mostly Kountry will perform until 10 p.m.

Saturday events start with the Watermelon 5K Crawl, sponsored by Central Lee cheerleaders at 8 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m.

The annual Watermelon Festival Parade starts at noon. Line-up and registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at Casey’s.

Lunch starts at the Ivor Fowler center at 1 p.m. and the Central Lee Impulse Dance Team performs at the same time, followed by the McNamara Band at 2 p.m.

Debbie Frank will perform on the main stage starting at 3 p.m.

Ribeye sandwiches, compliments of FFA Alumni, at the Ivor Fowler Center, start a 5 p.m., when Kathy Dye takes the main stage.

Bingo will be played 5-9 p.m. Saturday, followed by a performance 7-9 p.m. by Hearsay.