If you’re a watermelon lover—or a melon lover in general—there’s one summer festival in small town Ohio you need to mark your calendars for. The Dresden Melon Festival in Muskingum County transforms the town into a watermelon wonderland each year. From watermelon eating contests to melon derby races, there’s something here for everyone.

Check it out:

Set on the banks of the Muskingum River, this small town goes all out one day a year to celebrate its melon-growing heritage with the Dreseden Melon Festival.

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook The festival takes place within Dresden River Park.

This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, August 4. (Admission is $1 before 4 p.m. and $2 after 4 p.m.) The festival features melons galore, family-friendly activities, local vendors and more.

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook (Note: Free parking is available at Tri-Valley High School with a free shuttle service.)

A lot goes on at this small town festival, which features a petting zoo, cruise-in, tractor pull, melon growing contest—and even a melon derby race.

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook The Melon Growing Contest features cash prizes for the heaviest watermelon, largest cantaloupe and sweetest cantaloupe.

Of course, no melon festival would be complete with a watermelon eating contest.

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook To view a full schedule of the day’s events, click here.

And for the early-risers, there’s a 5K race and Kids Race. The fishing tournament also takes place in the morning, starting at 6 a.m.

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook Fo more information about the Dresden Melon Festival, click here.

Have you ever been to the Dresden Melon Festival? If so, we want to know what your experience was like!

Dresden Melon Festival/Facebook

The festival takes place within Dresden River Park.

(Note: Free parking is available at Tri-Valley High School with a free shuttle service.)

The Melon Growing Contest features cash prizes for the heaviest watermelon, largest cantaloupe and sweetest cantaloupe.

To view a full schedule of the day’s events, click here.

Fo more information about the Dresden Melon Festival, click here.

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