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Watermelon Carnival

Water Valley, MS 38965

Watermelon Carnival

The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley’s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.

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AARP Events for Water Valley

AARP Events for Water Valley

• Walk and Roll: Advocating for Pedestrians and Cyclists

  Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT

  Zoom

  Online Event

• Holiday Healing: Tools to Help Overcome Social Isolation

  Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT

  Facebook

  Online Event

• Low Impact Cardio/Strength Building Series

  Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CT

  Zoom

  Online Event

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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
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												<span>38965</span>
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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]
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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
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												<span>38965</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:30&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
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					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-co-virtual-low-impact-cardiostrength-training-class-online-co-1031-12122024-28n3l8vmx3d.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-LOW-IMPACT-CARDIOSTRENGTH-BUILDING-SERIES">Low Impact Cardio/Strength Building Series</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
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<h2>Contact AARP<br />Mississippi</h2>
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<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MSAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSAARP@aarp.org </a></li>
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/mississippi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Mississippi</a></li>
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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
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												<span>38965</span>
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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Watermelon Carnival</h1></header>

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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
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[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]
Code Context
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
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	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">
	<div class="module-spacer">
		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Watermelon Carnival</h1></header>

		<div class="row">
			<div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer">
				<p>
					<div>
											<div>
							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
											</div>
					</div>
				</p>
								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
								</div>
								
			</div>
			<div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer">
				<iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Watermelon+Carnival%2C+%2C+Water+Valley%2C+MS+38965" allowfullscreen> </iframe>
			</div>
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				<div class="module-spacer clearfix">
						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

	<div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
                <form method="post" action="/water-valley-ms/report/place/watermelon-carnival-water-valley-ms.html">
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				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
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		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Water Valley</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Water Valley</h2>
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			<ul class="list">
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-and-roll-advocating-for-pedestrians-and-cyclists-in-communities-across-maine-fcndq8hr4vk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-AND-ROLL-ADVOCATING-FOR-PEDESTRIANS-AND-CYCLISTS">Walk and Roll: Advocating for Pedestrians and Cyclists</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:30&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-holiday-healing-tools-for-seniors-to-overcome-isolation-112124-virtual-ljnyqcqg8cb.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HEALING-TOOLS-TO-HELP-OVERCOME-SOCIAL-ISOLATION">Holiday Healing: Tools to Help Overcome Social Isolation</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Facebook</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-co-virtual-low-impact-cardiostrength-training-class-online-co-1031-12122024-28n3l8vmx3d.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-LOW-IMPACT-CARDIOSTRENGTH-BUILDING-SERIES">Low Impact Cardio/Strength Building Series</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/water-valley-ms/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
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<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
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                    </div>
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<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-WATERVALLEY-MS">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-WATERVALLEY-MS">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
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                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
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                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Mississippi Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Mississippi Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMS" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMS" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMS">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>

 
<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP<br />Mississippi</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:MSAARP@aarp.org " target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSAARP@aarp.org </a></li>
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/mississippi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Mississippi</a></li>
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/heres-how-to-contact-aarp-mississippi/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-WATERVALLEY-MS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>


</ul>
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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Watermelon Carnival</h1></header>

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				<p>
					<div>
											<div>
							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
											</div>
					</div>
				</p>
								<div>
					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
								</div>
								
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				<div class="module-spacer clearfix">
						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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                <form method="post" action="/water-valley-ms/report/place/watermelon-carnival-water-valley-ms.html">
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    </form>
        
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    <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. 
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	href="/water-valley-ms/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
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<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
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		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Water Valley</h2>
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					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/walk-and-roll-advocating-for-pedestrians-and-cyclists-in-communities-across-maine-fcndq8hr4vk.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-WALK-AND-ROLL-ADVOCATING-FOR-PEDESTRIANS-AND-CYCLISTS">Walk and Roll: Advocating for Pedestrians and Cyclists</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:30&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-il-holiday-healing-tools-for-seniors-to-overcome-isolation-112124-virtual-ljnyqcqg8cb.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-HOLIDAY-HEALING-TOOLS-TO-HELP-OVERCOME-SOCIAL-ISOLATION">Holiday Healing: Tools to Help Overcome Social Isolation</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Facebook</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-co-virtual-low-impact-cardiostrength-training-class-online-co-1031-12122024-28n3l8vmx3d.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-LOW-IMPACT-CARDIOSTRENGTH-BUILDING-SERIES">Low Impact Cardio/Strength Building Series</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/water-valley-ms/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
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					<i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> 
										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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		<header><h1 class="article-headline">Watermelon Carnival</h1></header>

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							<span>Water Valley</span>,
							<span>MS</span>
												<span>38965</span>
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										<a href="https://www.watervalleychamber.com/watermelon-carnival" target="_blank">Watermelon Carnival</a>
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						<p>The Watermelon Carnival is Water Valley&rsquo;s most prized annual celebration. An estimated 20,000 people attend the various events, always set the first weekend in August. The carnival is named among the top 20 festivals in the southeastern United States by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The first carnival was held on Thursday, August 27, 1931. At that time, the entire nation was in the grip of the depression. In Water Valley, a bank had failed, the railroad had pulled out, and unemployment was high. Local businessmen were concerned about the spirit of the townspeople, so they decided to host a carnival to boost morale.The Watermelon Carnival consisted of a parade, a pageant to name the carnival queen, and a formal ball. Festivities were repeated for nine consecutive years, and then halted with the outbreak of World War II. The Watermelon Carnival lay in dormancy until 1980.</p>		</div>
		

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