Contests, Activities, and Workshops

New Time This Year!

All contests begin on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 11:30 AM.

Sign-ups start at 10:30 AM, right outside the Dance Barn.

Participants must sign up before the contests begin. Participants must be at the Dance Barn at 11:30 AM and stay for the duration of the contests.

2026 Band Contest

Enter to win up to $500 plus a prime time slot on Saturday evening. Sign up outside the dance barn starting at 10:30 until 11:20 AM Saturday. Participants must sign up before the contest starts and must stay at the dance barn for the duration of the contests.

1st place: $500 plus a 15-minute performance at 4:30 PM on Saturday. Plus, a $500 paid mainstage slot at next year’s Festival! 2nd place is $200, and 3rd place is your choice of festival merch, either a hat or a t-shirt.

The band contest is one of the primary ways we check out new bands to hire for future events. Show off for the audience, the judges, and the programming committee. And most importantly, join in the fun! Past band contest winners include a mix of established bands and pickers who met at a workshop or while picking around the campfire at the fest. From campfire to mainstage, you never know who might win!

Banjo Picking Contest

The 2026 Instrumental Picking Contest features the Banjo

Thanks to a generous gift from Gold Tone, the instrumental picking competition is back at the Watermelon Pickers’ Fest.

The first-place winner will take home a brand-new Gold Tone banjo. Second place will receive a festival T-shirt or hat, along with tickets to next year’s Pickers’ Fest. You can see the prize banjo on display at the merch tent. Signups will be open at 10:30 AM.

The contest takes place on Saturday at 11:30 AM. Each contestant will perform one song. Players may bring one accompanist, but the accompanist must use an instrument other than the banjo.

The Rules

1. All contestants must have a festival ticket before registration.
2. Songs should be no more than 4 minutes in length.
3. The band/banjo contestants will be provided with a single large-diaphragm mic, with no plug-in and no setup time. There will be a plug-in for bass players, if needed, and it will run through the house sound system. No amps!
4. Contestants may be called to the stage in any order. Contestants must be at the dance barn at 11:30 AM and stay for the duration of the contests.
5. Winners will be announced on Saturday afternoon. Bands must be prepared to play a 15-minute full-band set from 4:30-4:45 PM. Banjo winners will play a tune on their new banjo before the band’s performance.
6. Contestants must be registered and present at the Show Barn by 11:30 AM to be counted in the contest. Contestants must be by the dance barn stage at 2:45 PM to hear the winners announced. The winning band and banjo player must be available at 4:15-4:45 PM to play in the Show Barn. All members who competed must be present for the performance.
7. No Watermelon Pickers’ Fest mainstage performers are permitted in the contest.
8. Prizes will be awarded to the top three bands and the top two banjo pickers. See the prize descriptions above.
9. All contestants agree to hold Watermelon Pickers’ Fest and its affiliates free from liability for any and all damages resulting from participation in the contest.
10. No electrical instruments are permitted. All bands must be acoustic and must include either a banjo, mandolin, or fiddle.
11. Bands will be judged on timing, taste and tone.
12. The contest coordinator has the final say. There will be no disputes, quarrels, or arguments heard whatsoever.
13. Have fun and good luck!

Free Kids’ Activities

There’s something to do at the fest for the young and the young at heart. From beloved activities that have become a tradition, like the Watermelon Tie Dye T-Shirts, and Parachutes and Piñatas, to new activities like the instrument petting zoo, there’s never a dull moment. Young pickers are encouraged to join the Watermelon Seeds Kids’ Academy, an afternoon workshop for young pickers.

Workshops

Music and artistic expression are not limited to mainstage performers and the dance barn. Join the creative atmosphere with workshops and experiences that make the Watermelon Pickers’ Fest special. There’s something for everyone, from The Watermelon Workshop Music Camp to dance workshops, Yoga sessions, slow jams, and more! You’ll be ready to join the fun, pick by the campfire, or even enter the band contest!