You might not have ever heard of Cordele-Crisp, but this small town actually has a HUGE charm… why? Well, it’s simple. Cordele is the Watermelon Capital of the WORLD!
Visit Cordele-Crisp says,
Our title ‘Watermelon Capital of the World’ was challenged in the early ’90s by Hope, Arkansas, and Hempstead, Texas. The competition was tough, but Cordele-Crisp County proved that we truly have the best melons anywhere in the WORLD and proudly retained our title. Our melons were deemed as the crispest, juiciest, and sweetest. This is due to the hot, dry nights and the type of soil in Crisp County. Over 200 million pounds of melons are grown and shipped from our community each year.
200 million pounds of melons from this tiny town? We’re extremely impressed!
And to top it all off, Cordele hosts a massive Watermelon Festival every single summer… and you don’t want to miss it! Keep scrolling for all the details on Georgia’s best (and oldest!) Watermelon Festival!
What can guest expect at the Cordele Watermelon Days Festival?
According to Visit Cordele-Crisp,
The Watermelon Days Festival offers over thirty activities, with something for everyone, during the celebration of our favorite fruit, which has made us so famous. We hold the festival to honor the farmers, growers, brokers, and buyers because our watermelon industry is a tremendous economic engine for our community.
Festival-goers at the Watermelon Festival can expect a summery extravaganza with all-things watermelon! The festival will have arts, crafts and food vendors, along with a massive Watermelon Festival parade and car and truck display!
You can also expect fun themed activities like:
- Live entertainment
- Watermelon Slice Giveaway
- Jr. Watermelon Eating Contest
- Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Okay, I’m in! Gimme the details!
Where: 2459-H Us Hwy 280 W / Cordele GA 31015
When: June 20th, 2026 | The parade begins at 8:30 a.m.
Don’t miss out on all the fun! Check out the Watermelon Festival, Georgia’s oldest fest, just 2 hours from ATL!
