By Staff Report
This yearÂ’s free concert at Jim Trawick Park will be Friday, June 25, and features country music stars The Gatlin Brothers, Andy Griggs, and Jamie OÂ’Neal. This event is family friendly, with festival style seating.
“The Covid-19 Pandemic was a blow to all of us this past year, and the festival was canceled for the first time since it started in 1956,” said Festival Chairman Judge Colby Peel. “People are excited to get back to some sense of normalcy. We are pleased to be back and stronger than ever. Our community has embraced this event for more than sixty years, and this festival’s success can be attributed to the sponsors, volunteers, participants and everyone who attends. Seeing families come out and watch quality entertainment and enjoy numerous activities at no cost makes everything we do worthwhile.”
The event continues Saturday, June 26, with a Pancake Breakfast, 5K Hot Trot, Watermelon Parade, Classic Car Show, Big Watermelon Auction, arts, crafts and food vendors.
Nashville songwriters Wendell Mobley and Lee Thomas Miller will be performing numerous number one hits they have written for stars like Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, and others on the stage of the Washington County Agricultural Center at 1:30 p.m on Saturday.
Judge Peel and the Panhandle Watermelon Festival invite everyone to come out and support this event. For more information visit: www.panhandlewatermelon.com or visit us on Facebook or Instagram.
Hannah Collins 
KINSLEY COOK