Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival

06/27/2025

HCWF 2025 Arts and Craft Contest Winners

06/24/2025

HCWF-83rd annual - Melon Judging 2025

Congratulations to the following:
Grand Champion, Heaviest (39.4 lbs.) and Best Other Variety was a Sangria Melon entered by: Sarah Beth Thomas
Best Crimson Sweet: Carter Parnell
Best Charleston Gray: Morgan Parnell
Best Jubilee: Jenny Parnell
Thanks to Rogan Gibson, Anna Sarah Hill and Lisa Terry for coordinating the event.

Pictured L to R: Sarah Beth Thomas, Carter Parnell, Jenny Parnell, Morgan Parnell

06/24/2025

About our contributing Watermelon photographer, Jeremy Ginn:

"I was born and raised in the big city of Varnville, where I still live today. The majority of my life was spent in public service, primarily as a Lieutenant with the Fairfax Police Department, and a few years volunteering with the Varnville Fire Department," Ginn said. "Around seven years ago, I began taking photography seriously, and I now shoot portraits, weddings, bo***ir, and various events around my community. I'm a long time snake educator as well, with a reach into the millions on social media."

🍉Thank you Jeremy for capturing all the memories during our 83rd Annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival!

06/24/2025

Results of 2025 HCWF Arts and Craft Contest:

Adult (in county)

1st: Linda Thompson (Watermelon Wagon)

2nd: Sali Parker Morris (The Cow Jumped over the Melon painting)

3rd: Nella Sinclair (Cross Stitch Raccoon/Watermelon picture)

Youth (in county)

1st: Caroline and Carson Tripp (Melon Style Tic-Tac-Toe)

2nd: Lauren Smith (Recycled Melon Truck display)

3rd: Carter Dewitt (Monogram Watermelon Placemats w/napkins)

Adult (out of county)

1st: Kimberly Elliott (Watermelon painting w/poem)

2nd: Carol Manigault (Watermelon Wreath )

Youth (out of county)

1st: Ezra Elliott (Watermelon Painting)

2nd: Sylvie Elliott (Watermelon Painting)

Thanks to all who participated in the 83rd annual Arts and Crafts Contest. The quality of entries this year was fantastic. Please stop by the Clemson Extension Service to view the entries of these local and semi-local artists and crafters.

06/24/2025

🍉2025 WATERMELON FESTIVAL FISHING CONTEST RESULTS

🍉THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED!

06/24/2025

83RD ANNUAL HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL PARADE WINNERS

1. THEME AWARD-BEST REPRESENTATION OF FESTIVAL THEME: DR MARK SEASE
2. SPIRIT AWARD - BEST GROUP PARTICIPATION - DANCING SENSATIONS
3. MELON AWARD - BEST USE/DISPLAY OF FRESH WATERMELONS - AHJ LIBRARY
4. BAND AWARD - BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LIVE BAND, MARCHING OR OTHERWISE - COLLABORATION OF SOUND
5. INNOVATION AWARD - BEST HOMEMADE ENTRY, FLOAT OR OTHERWISE - COLLINS PEST CONTROL
6. SHRINERS AWARD - BEST CLOWN ACT, CHARACTER ACT, OR MOTORIZED ACT - JAHAB SHRINE CLUB
7. GRAND MARSHAL - DR. MARK SEASE
8. OTHER AWARD (NON-SPECIFIC) - VARNVILLE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICPATED IN THE 83RD ANNUAL WATERMELON FESTIVAL PARADE! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PARADE WINNERS!

06/24/2025

83RD ANNUAL HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL PET SHOW WINNERS

PEDIGREE DOG ADULT
1ST- BETH GARDNER (OLIVER)
2ND- ASHER ADAM’S (SLINKY)
3RD-JUSTINE AYER (MOOSE)

PEDIGREE DOG CHILD
1ST- LYDIN SOTO (BANKS)
2ND-WHITLEY OHMER (DAISY)
3RD- HARPER PYLES (EVIE)

NON PEDIGREE DOG ADULT
1ST- LEXY STANLEY (LUNA)
2ND-BRANDON AND DANIELLE MARCHYSHYN (EMMA)
3RD-ANN LONG (BISQUIT)

NON PEDIGREE DOG CHILD
1ST-SCARLETT AND DELILAH (RUBBLE)
2nd -MCKYNZIE STANLEY (BANKS)
3rd -JENSEN STANFIELD (POPPY)

MOST UNUSUAL
1ST -ELLISON AND RYAN CROSBY (KRAKEN BEARDED DRAGON)
2ND - CHARLEIGH BARKLEY (DAFFODIL QUAIL)
3RD -KYLEE SANDERS (ELLA-KATAHDIN HAIR SHEEP)

BEST FARM PET
1ST- STELLA GROVENSTEIN (DIXIE)
2ND- CHANCE ADAM’S (NUGGET)
3RD- MORGAN PARNELL (PATTERSON)

BEST DRESSED
1ST- LEXY STANLEY (LUNA)
2ND- SUSAN SUTTON (SCRUFFY)
3RD- AVRIL YTUARTE (STRIPEY)

CAT
1ST- AVRIL YTUARTE (STRIPEY)
2ND - JP (FRANNIE)

BEST TRICK
1ST -BRANDON AND DANIELLE MARCHYSHYN (EMMA)
2ND -HARPER PYLES (EVIE)
3RD -CINDY HOLYFIELD (BELLA)

BEST IN SHOW
STELLA GROVENSTEIN (DIXIE NIGERIAN DWARF GOAT)

06/23/2025

PLEASE SHARE! 🎓 Lost Item Alert 🎓
A ladies Clemson college ring was lost during Friday night’s Street Dance. This piece holds great sentimental value, and we’re hoping someone in our wonderful community may have found it.

If you have any information or happened to come across it, please reach out to Zoe McCrary as soon as possible. Your help in returning it would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you 🧡💜 -Zoe
(*Picture just for attention)

06/23/2025

2025 DUNAMIS KARATE PERFORMANCE

06/21/2025

06/21/2025

2025 HAMPTON COUNTY WATERMELON FESTIVAL PARADE 🍉