Alamo will be hosting the 4th Annual Watermelon Festival on Saturday, May 21st at Central Park, located between Business 83 and 7th Street. It will be held between 2:00 PM and 10:30 PM. This year’s festival will feature games, activities and watermelon for the whole family.
Tejano artist David Lee Garza, along with country artists Curtis Grimes and Matt & The Herdsmen, are scheduled to headline the event. The festival will also include kiddie rides, food vendors, arts and crafts, and a beer garden. BBQ aficionados are welcome to participate in the festival’s barbecue cook-off, and watermelon lovers are invited to sign up for the watermelon contest. Admission will be free for the entire family.
“We try to get bigger and better every year,” said Parks and Recreation Assistant Steven Vela in a 2015 article published by The Monitor.
The festival veteran said organizers are always aiming to improve upon the event each year, correcting mistakes made in previous festivals.
In the Past
The Watermelon Festival was founded in 2013 and has historically taken place in Alamo’s downtown district. In the past, the festival has also featured a car show, a 5K run and performances by local dance troupes. Past musical performers include Gatos Locos, Personal Us, CryWolf and Hometown Boys. Last year, special performances by comedians Raymond Orta, Mario “Superstar” Salazar, Soñia Treviño and Rick Cano took place on the festival stage.
Curtis Grimes
Curtis Grimes is a Texas-born country singer best known for his appearance on NBC’s The Voice. Grimes appeared on the first season of the show in 2011 as a part of Cee-Lo Green’s team. The star is currently touring in support of his new EP, Bottom of the Fifth. His music is heavily influenced by Alan Jackson, George Strait and Merle Haggard. Grimes started his country music career by performing at San Marcos and Austin venues. His success on The Voice paved the way for his biggest gig yet, opening for country superstar Kenny Chesney.
David Lee Garza
David Lee Garza remains one of the Valley’s biggest and most respected Tejano musicians of the last 3 decades. With hits like “Con El Tiempo” and “Cuatro Caminos,” the accordionist and his band Los Musicales have more than 30 recorded albums in their legendary discography. The Grammy-award winning artists have collaborated with Tejano elites like Little Joe y La Familia, Jimmy Gonzales, Bobby Pulido as well as country artist Kevin Fowler.
Matt & The Herdsman
Edinburg natives Matt & The Herdsmen are an up-and-coming Texas country band, which recently released their album Small Town Stories. The foursome has played alongside country stars like Toby Keith, Easton Corbin and the Randy Rogers Band. “Dance All Night,” the group’s new single, reached number 47 on the Texas Regional Radio Charts and number 61 on the Texas Music Charts. You can often catch their Texas tunes at venues like Hillbilly’s in McAllen or Mission’s Las Palmas Race Park.
Be a Part of Something Big
Alamo’s Watermelon Festival is just one of the many notable events that takes place in the Rio Grande Valley. The city is becoming one of the Valley’s most vibrant areas with its low cost-of-living and lush ecotourism spots. If you are interested in becoming a part of this year’s Watermelon Festival as a food or product vendor, please call Alamo Parks and Recreation at 956.787.6699. For more information about what else the city has to offer, contact the Alamo EDC.