Hickory Hill

If you drink, don't drive, do the watermelon crawl takes on a whole new meaning when you're in Thomson, Georgia at the end of summer, where the lyrics to Tracy Byrd's hit song could almost be the anthem for the local Tom Watson Watermelon Festival.

First begun in 2004, the festival is rooted much further back in history when Tom Watson a "fiery" Populist leader and local newspaper proprietor of the early 1900's was honored by a Florida farmer who had cultivated a watermelon in Watson's name. The farmer sent an envelope of the seeds to Watson, who passed them onto his brother, Top, a farmer and merchant. Watson's brother soon realized the large melons were ideal for shipping because they had a thick rind and kept longer than other melons so he began growing more than 50 acres of the melons for their seeds, which he then sold. Over the years several others, including Tom Watson's son, J.D., also began working with the melons and selling their seeds as well.

The unique watermelon lived up to its namesake in popularity and soon a pound of seeds sold for up to $1.25 even back then!

When one of Tom Watson's great, great grandsons ran across an old ad for the seeds in his ancestor's newspaper in 2004 he asked the groundskeeper of the old antebellum family home, Hickory Hill, if there were any Tom Watson Watermelons still around. To his delight, there was and the rest is festival history.
Since that first festival in 2004, festival attendees have loved the celebration that surrounds that sweet, round fruit.

Activities at the annual August festival include a watermelon recipe contest, seed spitting contest, watermelon shot-put, greased watermelon three-legged relay, the watermelon roll event, watermelon sling-shot, the watermelon carving contest, and, of course, a watermelon eating contest.

The festival also awards Tom Watson Watermelon growers for superior specimens. And athletes - or wannabe athletes - can participate in the 2-mile "Watermelon Waddle" race.

As far as what a first time attendee can expect from the festival, Michelle Zupan, curator of Hickory Hill, says, "It will be hot, but there will be lots of free watermelon. It's a little silly and a whole lot of fun - we're talking a large, green fruit here, what's not to love?!"

Food vendors, Hickory Hill mansion tours and other activities are also on-hand for visitors throughout the day. Festival admission and parking is free.

- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Christine Foster

Christine is a freelance writer currently living in North Atlanta. She has worked as a reporter for numerous newspaper, magazine and online media companies, including the Florida Keys Keynoter and The Sunday Paper in Atlanta. When she's not working Christine enjoys baking and antiquing.