Watermelon Festival boasts annual car show
The McDade Watermelon Festival has been going on now for 69 years, and for the last 17 years the small community in Bastrop County has held a car show in conjunction with the larger event.
The next festival and car show is slated for July 8 (the event is always the second Saturday in July). The fun begins with a street dance held the night before with entertainment provided by Kenny Orts. The Shop Dawgs, Jeff Haney and Barney Sledge are on tap for music during the festival on Saturday.
The car show will be held at the McDade Festival Grounds and features free registration and awards given out in several classes. Car owners whowishtocan also participate in the parade by con- tacting the McDade staff in advance (www.mcdadetexas.com). Registration will run 8:30-11 a.m. with awards being given out at 2 p.m.
“Last year we had about 125 cars, the biggest we ever had,” said organizer Janie Amescua. “(The Watermelon Festival in total) is usua llyacou ple thousand people. We generally have (participants) in the car show from the Houston, Bryan, and College Station area. The rest of them are usually from within 50 miles or so.”
As an activity hub for the surrounding rural area, the parade at 10:30 a.m. draws wide participation from other communities. In addition to a full lineup of vendors and food throughout the day, a ceremony crowns hometown royalty with the McDade Watermelon Queens Revue.