HOPE – The Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the 50th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival, taking place August 6–8, 2026 at Hope Fair Park in Hope, Arkansas!
This year’s theme, “Golden Jubilee,” celebrates five decades of family fun, community pride, and one of Arkansas’s most beloved summer traditions. For 50 years, the Hope Watermelon Festival has welcomed thousands of visitors from across the region for an unforgettable weekend filled with entertainment, contests, shopping, food, and community celebration.
🎡 Festival Favorites Returning This Year:
Antique Engine Show
Car Show
Watermelon Olympics
Cornhole Tournament
Softball Tournament
Dog Show
Watermelon Idol
Watermelon Eating & Seed Spitting Contests
Kidz Zone with inflatables, camel rides & family attractions
Visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of vendors featuring handmade crafts, boutique merchandise, festival favorites, and delicious food throughout the weekend.
🎶 Saturday Night Concert Finale
The festival’s big finale on Saturday, August 8 will feature:
⭐ Gretchen Wilson
with special guest
⭐ Mae Estes
The concert will take place at Fair Park on the CMC Stage and promises to be one of the biggest highlights of this historic celebration year.
Best known for chart-topping hits like “Redneck Woman,” “Here for the Party,” and “When I Think About Cheatin’,” Gretchen Wilson remains one of country music’s most recognizable voices. Arkansas native Mae Estes will open the evening with her authentic country sound and rising fan-favorite hits.
“We are incredibly excited to celebrate 50 years of the Hope Watermelon Festival,” said Christy Burns, Executive Director of the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce. “This Golden Jubilee celebration honors the tradition and history of the festival while continuing to create new memories for families and visitors from across the region.”
🎟 Get Involved
Concert tickets, vendor applications, sponsorship opportunities, and additional festival information are available online at:
hopemelonfest.com
You can also visit the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce at:
201 S. Main Street • Hope, AR
📞 (870) 777-3640
📧 hopemelonfest@yahoo.com
Follow the Hope Watermelon Festival on Facebook for festival updates, schedules, and announcements!