Contests, Activities, and Workshops

All contests begin on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 12:00 noon.

Sign-ups start at 11:00 AM, right outside the Dance Barn.

Participants must sign up before the contests begin. Participants must be at the Dance Barn at noon 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 11:00 until 11:50 AM Saturday. Participants ust 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 6:00 PM on Saturday. Plus, a $500 paid mainstage slot at next year’s Festival! 2nd place is $250, 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!

Mandolin Picking Contest

Details for 2026 To Be Confirmed

Thanks to a generous gift from Eastman Mandolins, the mandolin picking competition was back at the Watermelon Pickers’ Fest in 2025.

The first-place winner will take home a brand-new Eastman mandolin. Second place will receive a festival T-shirt or hat, along with tickets to next year’s Pickers’ Fest. You can see the prize mandolin on display at the merch tent on Thursday and Friday. Signups will be open at 11:00 AM.

The contest takes place on Saturday at 12:00 PM. Each contestant will perform one song. Players may bring one accompanist, but the accompanist must use an instrument other than the mandolin.

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/mandolin contestant will be provided with a single large diaphragm mic, 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. Contestans must be at the dance barn at noon and stay for the duration of the contests.
5. Winners will be announced on Saturday afternoon. Bands must be prepared to play a 30-minute full-band set from 4-4:30 PM. Mandolin winners will play a tune on their new mandolin before the band’s performance.
6. Contestants must be registered and present at the Show Barn by noon to be counted in the contest. Contestants must be by the main stage at 2:45 PM to hear the winners announced. The winning band and mandolin player must be available at 3:50-4:30 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 mandolinists. 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!

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 welcome at Thursday’s workshops and campfire jams, too! Check the schedule page for more details.

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!