2025 Watermelon Festival Parade

Cordele, Georgia - "Watermelon Capital of the World!"

"Fresh From the Vine Since 1949"

June 2026 will mark Cordele's 77th year celebrating the bountiful summer harvest with the "Watermelon Days Festival". A month full of good, clean, watermelon FUN! Visitors come from near and far to enjoy events such as the 4H Dog Show, Seed Spitting Contest, Watermelon Horseshoe Tournament, Fishing Rodeo, Watermelon Decorating Contest, Watermelon Chunking Contest, and more.  

If you happen to be one of those visitors, then take a ride on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train where the vintage 1949 air-conditioned cars take you back in time to the very first year Cordele hosted the Watermelon Days Festival. Depending on which day you choose to take the 45-mile trip from Cordele to Archery, the boyhood home of President Jimmy Carter.  Other stops may include the Georgia Veteran's State Park at Lake Blackshear, Leslie, Americus and/or Plains, home of the 39th President of the United States.  

Festival details and applications will be coming soon.