Petunia tagged me to do this fun post...Oh my...it's a fuzzy one! I grew up in a small town, Hampton, SC....the Watermelon Capital of the World. In 1980, I was selected Miss Hampton and thereby one of the hostesses of the Watermelon Festival....garden party, street dance, big float in a big parade, garden party, beauty pageant, Melon Ball (that's funny, isn't it...melon ball...). Hampton is one of those communities that time has passed by in a lot of ways...not much industry, and kids who leave for college rarely return to live or work unless they're coming back to a small family business. It's a shame because it was a pretty darn good place to grow up.
The Watermelon Festival is a BIG deal and is the longest running festival in the state. I haven't been back for festival weekend in probably 15 years but it is still going strong. An added bonus was that I got to go around the state and ride on floats and in convertibles in OTHER festivals...you know how I love to be the center of attention and although I never rose any higher in the queenly ranks, I had a VERY nice time as the big fish in my little pond for awhile.
That is so awesome! And of course it makes me think of the Watermelon Crawl. I grew up with that song and loved it!!
ReplyDeleteIn my hometown we host the chicken festival!! We went every year and I loved it!
Our town was very similar to yours. Rural Virginia, time has passed that little town too. But seriously it was the best place to grow up. I wouldnt trade it for anything!
ReplyDeletea friend of mine was a recent Watermelon Festival Hostess/Hampton Queen
ReplyDeleteGIRL, that looks like fun!!! :) nothing like a hometown parade. seriously!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun memory...in my small rural town it was the Onion days festival...being Onion Queen isn't as good as being watermelon queen lol. Congrats to you for being royalty! I bet it was fun!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to wear a tiara and ride on a float. But alas, I never have!!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Cute photo.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Kat
You are royalty!! How fun! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI had friends back in Louisiana who were Miss Catfish Festival and Miss Strawberry Festival! LOL!!
I did this Meme last week. It was the fourth picture from the fourth folder. Amazing how fast things change.
ReplyDeleteIs Rhett Butler's people another sequel to Gone With the Wind? I loved GWTW and read it a dozen times I am sure. But the first sequel was abismal at best(I can't even remember the name of it). What did you think oh Rhett Butler's People? (Is it still a sequel if it is by a different author. I'm not sure.)
That is such a cute picture! It's a really small world, because I used to live in Hampton, SC and I always loved when it was time for the Watermelon Festival. My dad coached football at Wade Hampton High School, and we really enjoyed living there. I was very sad when we had to leave. :-(
ReplyDeleteDo you still have family there?
OMG! I worked for the Clemson Extension Service in Hampton for four years as their home economist! I know all too well the Watermelon Festival! I was the secretary for the festival association for a couple years!
ReplyDeleteThen I taught school at Wade Hampton for six years before we moved!
Small world!!!
VERY COOL!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Belle, thanks for the visit and comment at my place. I enjoyed reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family are having a great holiday!
That's so funny...When I was growing up, I was in the "Miss Forestry" pageant in Augusta and my friends called me "Miss Pine Seedling." I don't know what my mother was thinking......
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