official site for the city of cordele, ga
"MY WATERMELON ERA"
June 2025 will mark Cordele's 76th year celebrating the bountiful summer harvest with the "Watermelon Days Festival". Visitors come from near and far to enjoy events such as the Watermelon Festival Parade, "This is Your Life", Junior Watermelon Eating Contest, Seed Spitting Contest, Classic Car Show, Crisp County 4-H Dog Show, Watermelon Scavenger Hunt, Kiwanis Talent Showcase and so much more.
If you happen to be one of those visitors, be sure to take a ride on the SAM shortline excursion train where the vintage 1949 air conditioned cars take you back in time to the very first year Cordele hosted the Watermelon Days Festival. Depending on which day you choose to take the 45 mile trip from Cordele to Archer, stops may include the Georgia Veteran's State Park at Lake Blackshear, Leslie, Americus and/or Plains, home of President Jimmy Carter.
For a detailed schedule of all of the events of this year's Festival, including the grand finale celebration of July 4th fireworks on the beautiful Flint River, click on the link above. See you there!