Champion Watermelon award is given to the largest Black Diamond watermelon grown according to the grower's association rules. The top entries in the Melon Contest are sold at auction. The Champion melon has brought between $400 and $22,500. Part of the proceeds from the auction support student scholarships.
Seed Spitting
Three separate watermelon seed spitting contests give children, adults, and teams a chance to be winners. Kids and Kid Teams spit on Friday afternoon. Adults on Saturday. And four person adult teams spit on Sunday. The current Guiness Book of World Records is 68 feet 9 and 1/8 inches was set by Lee Wheelis in Luling in 1989. Come try to beat it!
Melon Eating Contest
You can participate in a genuine watermelon eating contest. Contestents line the tables and the winner is determined on who can eat one slice of watermelon the fastest! Great Thump fun for the entire family!!!!
No Grounds Admission. Fun starts after 5:00 p.m. Food and Arts & Crafts open.
Pale Horses headlines on the main stage.
$5 Admission 5 pm - 7 pm to all areas of the festival! Stay & enjoy the main stage acts 7 pm- 12 am, Thom Sheperd and Kevin Fowler, and more for $15!
FREE ADMISSION UNTIL 1 PM! After 1 pm $10 gate admission includes grounds access plus all music & activities. 7pm to 1 am Main Stage Entertainment, The Cody Johnson Band, Charlie Robison & The Bellamy Brothers.
Sunday features Free Full Access with a Car Show, Music, and Team Seed Spitting. Festivities take place 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.



Pictured above are two families that have made becoming the Watermelon Thump Queen a family tradition.
Watermelon Thump Queen: Each year a group of young ladies participate in an election for the Luling Watermelon Thump Queen. The ladies work very hard making signs, selling tickets, and going door-to-door asking for votes in the hope of becoming the Watermelon Thump Queen. The Queen is crowned on Thursday of the Thump and she continues her reign thoughout the year representing Luling around our great state of Texas all year long at numerous parades and festivals.
The Guiness Book of Records Watermelon Seed Spit Record is 68 feet 9 1/8 inches from the starting line. The Championship Watermelon Seed Spit record was set in 1989 by Lee Wheelis from Luling, Texas. Luling offers hundreds of dollars in cash prizes to anyone who can beat the record during the World Champion Seed Spitting Competition. Sign Up, Step Up and Spit!!!!!