Watermelon fanatics joined for the annual ‘Melons in the Park’ event

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – Folks in Jackson County are getting the most out of their watermelons.

The Annual ‘Melons in the Park’ event was held at Madison Street Park on Saturday morning.

The market itself has been around for 47 years. But the melons in the park event has become a recent tradition.

Attendees had access to free watermelon juice and slices while listening to live music from the Tallahassee band the ‘Hot Tamales’.

For the real fanatics, there was watermelon bowling, races, and eating contests.

The top prize for each was $100.

“Makes me feel good to see all these wonderful people from all over. Not just Jackson County. I mean, we have people I’ve met people here from Montana, Washington, state, but yeah, it makes me feel good to see everybody. I love to talk. So, I mean, you don’t have to come to buy anything. You just come talk to me and any of us here. We’re like a big family,” Event Coordinator Kathy Gilmore said.

For those who needed a break from the summer fruit, there were more than 40 different vendors and several food trucks.

Gilmore says in October they have a similar event called ‘Pumpkins in the Park’ which she says will be a bigger event.

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