78th McDade Watermelon Festival 2026

The 78th Annual McDade Watermelon Festival returns to McDade from July 9-11, 2026, bringing three days of family fun, hometown traditions and plenty of watermelon to one of Bastrop County’s most beloved events. Families, friends and visitors are invited to gather in downtown McDade to celebrate a festival that has been entertaining generations with live music, contests, food, parades and community spirit.
On Thursday, grillers can check-in for the BBQ Cook-Off.
On Friday the fun begins. Enjoy food trucks, arts and craft vendors, and an evening Dance on the Grounds featuring Wyatt Ellis and the Texas Unlimited Band.
Saturday’s schedule is packed from morning to evening, starting with the Sweating Melons 5K and melon weigh-in. The Grand Parade rolls through downtown at 10 a.m., followed by live music from Los Funky Monkeys and the Jacob Essary Band.
Festival-goers can take part in a variety of crowd-favorite activities, including a watermelon eating contest, seed spitting contest, bingo, washer tournament, cornhole tournament and the always-popular watermelon attire contest. The day also includes the Watermelon Round-Up, presentation of the new festival queens and parade marshal, and the prize melon auction.
Whether attending for the BBQ cook-off, live entertainment, contests or small-town Texas charm, visitors will find plenty to enjoy. The celebration concludes with one of the festival’s sweetest traditions: a free watermelon feast for everyone to enjoy.