Thoughts on Watermelon Festival Weekend
HOPE – The annual Hope Watermelon Festival had been planned for this weekend, but COVID-19 interceded for the cancellation of the event. Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce shared their thoughts on what could have been and what will be:
For our community…
Feeling a bit “melon”choly at the moment? We (chamber) are! Today at noon would have been the opening day of the 44th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival! Oh, COVID, you GRINCH! 
We would be in the beautiful Hope Fair Park welcoming vendors and concessions and preparing to welcome thousands who travel to Hope to enjoy the festival with us!
Can’t you see it? Park would be hopping & popping with excitement! For ALL who “took a hit” when the festival was canceled, we fully understand! Our festival has mini “events within the event”, so many people are hurting right now!
How about this idea…Let’s not dwell on what we cannot fix! (Speaking to the chamber as well as everyone else.) Yes, it is more than a melon-choly moment, but we cannot stand still and think about “what-ifs”. Let’s celebrate going and growing beyond August 6-8, 2020 and look forward to August 5-7, 2021
Over the weekend:
1) Purchase a melon or two (or three) and enjoy the delicious-ness of a true Hope/Hempstead County melon!
2) Pay it forward – if you have been blessed, find someone to bless!
3) Reach out and thank those who would have been in the park leading one of the events or areas that folks love so much! Thank the City of Hope! Thank Hope Tourism Commission! Thank all who sponsor one or more areas during the festival! Thank anyone and everyone who steps up to volunteer hundreds of hours!
4) Get ready for the Not the Watermelon Festival Concert Concert (Virtual concert on Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 PM!
5) Check out all other festival-related activities at HempsteadHall.Com!
6) Purchase a festival t-shirt (Pick up forms at the chamber, Rae-Tay’s, BeDazzled and Elm Street Marketplace!
7) Participate or cheer for those who are participating in the Festival 5K Walk/Run on Saturday morning!
8) Check out melon decor that quite a few businesses are displaying and selling! They were ready and waiting for this weekend as well! Make it a BIG LOCAL WEEKEND! Shop & DIne!!!
9) Have a mini-staycation and check into a B&B or a local hotel because they were ready and waiting for the crowds that will not be heading our way!
10) AND…MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AUGUST 5-7, 2021…BIGGER & BETTER THAN EVER!
(Wiping tears, see you next year…)