Events

Winston-Dillard Melon Festival Opens Friday at Riverbend Park

The Winston-Dillard Melon Festival opens Friday at Riverbend Park, beginning three days of entertainment, vendors, children’s activities, car shows, competitions, and community traditions. Admission is free.

The Winston-Dillard Melon Festival opens Friday at Riverbend Park, beginning a three-day weekend of live entertainment, family activities, competitions, vendors, and community traditions.

This year’s “Watermelon Wonderland” celebration will run from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Festival activities include children’s games, senior bingo, live music, food and craft vendors, melon eating, mud volleyball, a scavenger hunt, a talent show, and car shows for adults and children. The Winston-Dillard Area Festival Association will also serve barbecue beef Saturday and barbecue chicken Sunday.

One of this year’s new attractions is the Shaky Grounds Cafe Escape Room. The mobile escape room will offer free, five-minute games Friday and Sunday, combining puzzles with emergency preparedness lessons.

Saturday’s events will include the Winston-Dillard Melon Festival Parade, beginning at 11 a.m. Participants can register starting at 10 a.m. at the Abby’s Legendary Pizza parking lot.

The Melon Festival Car Show will also take place Saturday at Riverbend Park. Registration will be open from 10 a.m. to noon for vehicles of all years, makes, and models. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m.

Children ages 3 through 14 can enter the festival’s first Kids Car Show with decorated Power Wheels, pedal cars, bicycles, tricycles, and other kid-sized rides. Registration will be open from 10 a.m. to noon, with trophies presented at 2 p.m.

Winston’s Got Talent begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on the Riverbend Park stage. Performers can register at the festival information booth Friday or before noon Saturday.

The Roseburg Receiver and The Roseburg Plug will have booths at the festival throughout all three days. Community members are invited to stop by, meet the teams, and learn more about their local news, public safety, and community information services.