Karen and I have been disappointed by the watermelons we’ve tried since moving to Charlotte. When I read that Pageland, South Carolina was celebrating their 68th Annual Watermelon Festival I had to go. I arrived just before the parade started and mingled with the participants who were staged and ready to roll. I prefer to view a parade while it’s still bunched together.
Pageland is a farming community with a population of 3,000. Lots of vintage tractors joined the cavalcade.
Colonel Homer Harmon gave me his signed picture and invited me to KFC after the parade to, “Get in on the fun.”
There were lots of young ladies sporting sashes and crowns in this parade, but little Ansley Belk was the only queen with a private ride.
No small town parade is complete without a marching band and firetrucks from neighboring districts. Central High School has only 650 students! Go, Eagles!
When his classic car broke down in mid-parade, he just pulled over, fixed it and got right back in there. This gentleman was unflappable and shunned all help.
The Shriners are known for tiny parade vehicles, but these guys could ride up and over this hearse as it drove down the street. Now that’s go carting!
Nothing says, “We’re the Watermelon Capital of the World” like trailers full of ripe melons. I wasn’t about to leave this melon mecca empty handed.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was Pageland’s own “Melon Monster.” This guy is king of the truck patch.
I bailed on the venders with the usual tchotchkes and fried foods. I came here in search of sweet melons. There were surprisingly few watermelon stands.
At last! On a corner blocks away from the barricaded streets a local farmer helped me out. His melons were 5-bucks each or two for 8-bucks. I had him select a couple of seedless beauties and he even put them in my truck.
I had to trek to South Carolina to find them, but this is one delicious watermelon. As my new friend Colonel Homer would say, “It’s finger-licking-good!”