The Clyde Watermelon Festival once more approaches the residents of North Central Kansas, complete with three days of a full schedule and a few auxiliary events surrounding the festival dates of Aug. 29—Sept. 1.
For the pre-festival activities, residents can participate in the Downtown Window Decorating Contest, sponsored by the Clyde Beautification Committee, and a Medallion Hunt that includes new clues each week until the first day of the festival, Friday, Aug. 29.
Medallion Hunt information can be found at the Clyde Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
On Friday, Aug. 29, the day will start with Chris Cakes Pancake Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Randolph-Decker Public Library, 107 South Green Street in Clyde. At the same time, artists will begin providing airbrush tattoos for children.
At 11 a.m., the Watermelon Festival Kids Clue Pursuit will begin, hosted at the library, and continue until completion. The Clyde Community Museum will then open until 2 p.m. After the museum closes, a children’s jigsaw puzzle competition will begin at 3 p.m. at The Village Green, located between City Hall and the local library.
The Chuckwagon Supper will begin at 5 p.m. at City Park, hosted by North Central Kansas Medical Center (NCKMC). Registration for the Golf Scavenger Hunt will begin at the same time, but instead, the check-in will be at the Clyde VFW, hosted by VFW Post #7515 Auxiliary.
Golf Scavenger Hunt participants will race off at 5:30 p.m., while an adult jigsaw puzzle competition begins at 6 p.m., at The Village Green.
Cornhole is set to close out the evening, with a competition starting at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown basketball and pickleball courts, hosted by Big City Scoops.
Saturday, Aug. 30, will pick right back up with more activities, set to begin with The Branch hosting breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m., and assistance from the Brantford Covenant Church Youth.
While breakfast begins, so will the check-in for the 7:30 a.m. 5K Run and 2-Mile Walk, hosted by Compound Brewing. As participants set out on their routes, the largest watermelon contest weight-in will begin at Clyde Ideal Market.
At 8 a.m., downtown crafts and exhibitors will open their stands and stalls. Just an hour after those stands open, at 9 a.m., KC’s Country Expressions Watermelon Carving Contest will begin.
Parade registration also begins at 8 a.m., with the line-up starting on Lincoln Street. At 9:30 a.m., the parade will begin in downtown, hosted by United Bank and Trust.
A few activities are set to begin after the parade, including the Eaglet Pageant, or Baby Show, ages 0 to 4 years at The Village Green. Clifton-Clyde Family, Career and Community Leaders of American (FCCLA) will host the event. The Green Street Car Show will also start up, located west of Clyde Ideal Market. The Clyde Community Museum will also open after the parade and will later close at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
From 11 a.m. to noon, the VFW Hall will have a meal hosted by the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Parish Ladies.
With full bellies, Clyde Watermelon Festival attendees will have a chance to watch the Demolition Derby beginning at 2 p.m., south of the Elevator at the Larry Jones Circle of Destruction. Interested parties can contact Beau DeRusseau, 785-275-2711, or Steven James, 303-503-4498.
A Showcase of Local Talent begins at the same time, but hosted at the old Presbyterian Church with the Clyde Historical Society.
The next event in the schedule will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. — a taco bar at Clyde Community Hall, hosted by the St. Mary’s Church Parish Hall Committee. A little later, at 6 p.m., the Kids Tractor Pull will begin in front of the lumberyard, and hosted by Elk State Bank.
While the tractor pull continues, event organizers will provide free watermelon at 6:30 p.m. west of Ideal Market. Subsequently after, a watermelon seed spitting contest will begin at 6:45 p.m. in front of Randolph-Decker Public Library. The group Clyde in Action will organize the competition.
A dance will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until midnight to finish the evening, with DJ Rick Stanley at The Village Green once more. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a themed dance and beer garden while DJ Rick Stanley performs.
Sunday will continue more Clyde Watermelon Festival activities, beginning at 8 a.m. with a co-ed softball tournament at Webster Hayes Ball Field, and hosted by the Clyde Ball Association. For more softball tournament information, contact Dana Sandmann at 785-614-2461.
A community worship service will start at 9 a.m. at the Branch Lawn, hosted by Brantford Covenant Church. A while later, at 11 a.m., the Clyde Community Hall will host a fried chicken dinner until 1 p.m., with donations going to the Guardians of the St. Joe Church.
Also at the same time, horseshoe tournament registration will begin at City Park, with the competition beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Clyde Community Museum will open once more from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Road Rally activities will begin at 3 p.m., with registration starting at 2 p.m., hosted by Men’s R&R and check in behind the local VFW. From 2 to 4 p.m., a quarter carnival will open, and after the carnival closes at 4 p.m., organizers will set up large inflatables for Family Fun at the City Park.
From 5 to 7 p.m., there will be Food 4 St. Jude at City Park — a pulled-pork meal where the proceeds will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While organizers continue serving pulled pork, the Brantford Covenant Youth will host an ice cream social at 6:30 p.m. in City Park.
The glow of fireworks will then close out the evening at 9:15 p.m. at City Park. Monday will host one last Clyde Watermelon Festival activity, with Clyde Hometown Lumber and MAC Fabricating hosting a four-person golf scramble at 9 a.m. in the Clyde Golf Course.
Multiple food trucks will be available throughout the festival, and more event information can be found on the Clyde Chamber of Commerce page on Facebook.
