If you like watermelon, you can indulge this weekend at the annual Watermelon Festival in Carytown.

According to Mike Murphy and his Three One One Production Team, the 2021 Carytown Watermelon Festival was somewhat unpredictable, 

but they were ready for the annual Richmond tradition this year.

We're asking "come on" since the Carytown Watermelon Festival has been going on for 40 years, Murphy noted.

In 2010, the Carytown Merchants Association and Three One One Production began working together. However, the festival was originally held forty years ago.

"It was launched in the height of the summer by a local store owner named Jo Anne Draucker. They put out watermelons to attract customers, and it just kind of grew from there.

As additional retailers joined over time, it eventually grew to be one of Virginia's biggest one-day events.

Carytown was established in 1938 and named in honour of politician and landowner Colonel Archibald Cary. There are hundreds of residents, and a mile-long strip of intriguing stores.

The entire mile-long festival footprint will be filled with watermelons, vendors, food, and entertainment.

The live music programme, which features five stages and music all day, is powered by Virginia Credit Union Live.

Acca Shriners and the Carytown Merchants Association will benefit from the more than 100,000 tourists that are anticipated throughout the day, according to Murphy.

The Shriners of Acca According to Andrew Coelho, five pickup trucks were allegedly filled with about 500 watermelons from a nearby farm in 2001 

by a group of Shriners who then sold them at the festival. This was how the Shriners got their start.

Publix has contributed 3000 watermelons for the celebration on Sunday. Six volunteer-staffed stations will sell watermelons for $1 each, 

with the proceeds going to the Acca Shriners Charities and the Carytown Merchant Association.

The celebration, which spans from Publix to the Byrd Theater, will require the closure of some streets from two in the morning on Sunday until nine in the evening. 

Watermelon-themed foods will be available, including fried, frozen, and wine and beer with watermelon flavours.

The Carytown Watermelon Festival starts on Sunday at 10 a.m., and visitors are free to explore the neighbourhood whenever they choose.