“A Sweet Slice of California” Watermelon Festival June 6th & 7th

CALIFORNIA WATERMELON FESTIVAL

“A Sweet Slice of California”

Featuring watermelon dishes, live music, arts & crafts, rides, games and the always popular Kids Zone!

Hansen Dam Soccer Fields – June 6 & 7, 2026

Vesper Public Relations May, 2026. Los Angeles, CA—A San Fernando Valley tradition, the California Watermelon Festival offers “a sweet slice of California” and celebrates the beginning of summer with a vibrant California harvest.

The California Watermelon Festival takes place Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm & Sunday June 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, an area equal to four football fields.

The California Watermelon Festival continues to grow, offering a wider range of experiences. This year, attendees can enjoy unique watermelon-inspired dishes, watermelon-themed arts and crafts, and an expanded Kids Zone. Freshly sliced watermelon will be available for purchase, either plain or with chamoy, and whole watermelons will also be sold on-site.

The event will feature DJs and live bands of various music genres such as country, Latin, banda, top 40, 80s, Bruno Mars, Selena & The Weeknd cover bands. There will be Country line dancing & lessons, a car show, and a pinup girl contest. To enhance the fun, there will be live watermelon carvings, a watermelon eating and costume contest. For photo memorabilia, there’s a variety of watermelon-themed signage, massive watermelon inflatables, and props, along with our fun mascots, Wedgy & Melony, that will definitely enhance your experience.

We invite you to bring a big appetite to enjoy unique watermelon-inspired dishes created by some of today's most adventurous chefs experimenting with the many flavors of summer.

Watermelon-inspired dishes include: Tacos, Pupusas, Cannoli, Cheese cake, Sourdough Bread, Corndogs, Deep-fried Watermelon, Aguas Frescas, Micheladas, Watermelon Rita, Sandia Loca Chillitas, Soda, Candy, Waffles, Crepes, Sushi, Popcorn, Hamburgers, Wings, Corn, Funnel Cake, Slushies, and Italian Ice.

Arts and Crafts vendors will be selling watermelon-themed products such as apparel, hats, soaps, candles, lotions, jewelry, and accessories.

Kids Zone features: Live singing and dancing performances of popular princesses and classic children's songs. Arts & Crafts (make watermelon-themed friendship bracelets), Watermelon Eating Contest, Costume Contest, Bubble Show, Face painting, Kids Slime and Carnival Rides, agriculture area with Petting zoo and Pony rides. Kids Zone Schedule here: https://watermelonfest.org/fun/#kids

Says Edward Campos, Festival Owner: "We've gone all out to make this year's Watermelon Festival not only fun for the whole family, but we want you and your family to come back each year, making the California Watermelon Festival San Fernando Valleys launch into summer fun for generations to come."

The California Watermelon Festival would like to thank its sponsors: California Ford, Imagination Works Graphics and Printing, Los Tóxicos Mariscos, Party City, Telemundo 52, T-Mobile, Tajin, Hamer Toyota, Budweiser, Luki Lab and AT&T.

 

Safety Rules:
Dogs (except certified service dogs), bicycles, rollerblades, tables, boom boxes, chairs, and ice chests/coolers are NOT permitted on festival grounds. In compliance with the Los Angeles County Health Department, non-Festival food & drinks are not permitted within the festival grounds. The festival is also a smoke-free environment. The California Watermelon Festival is not responsible for lost or stolen items, but will maintain a lost and found at the information booth near the entrance.

About the California Watermelon Festival:
The California Watermelon Festival started in the early 1960s in Sunland-Tujunga Park, CA. At that time, it was called the Lions Club Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival. It was hosted at Sunland-Tujunga Park until the park became too small for the event. Eventually, management moved it to the Pasadena Rose Bowl for one year and Santa Anita Park for another year. Ultimately, the event relocated to Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, which offers a cooler, more centralized location accessible from Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County. After moving to Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, the festival was renamed the California Watermelon Festival. The objective of the California Watermelon Festival is to create a fun, family-friendly two-day celebration of watermelon with food, games, and visuals.

About Edward Campos, California Watermelon Festival Owner:
Festival Owner Edward Campos is a San Fernando Valley native, a UCLA graduate, and a business owner who currently resides in Sylmar, CA. Campos founded Imagination Works Graphics and Printing, which has been designing and printing for businesses in the Los Angeles area for over 20 years. His company has serviced Modelo Beer, Jack Daniels, Magic Mountain, Party City, Pepsi Cola, KC Lights, and the City of San Fernando. In the last 10 years, Campos has made the California Watermelon Festival one of the most successful festivals in Los Angeles.

EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
 The California Watermelon Festival will be at Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, 11480 Foothill Blvd, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342.
 Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Watermelon Festival website. On-site parking is $15, payable by card only.
 Adult tickets are required for attendees ages 12 and older.
 Child tickets are required for attendees ages 5-11. *Free attendance for kids under 5.*
 Must be 21 or over to purchase beer or wine. ID must be shown.
 Tickets grant attendees entry into the festival and include a complimentary slice of fresh watermelon.
 Live Music –Top 40s, 80s, rock en español, cumbia, swing, country and banda.
 An enhanced Kids Zone.
 Watermelon food vendors offering a bounty of flavors to eat and drink.
 Food booths accept cash and credit cards unless otherwise indicated. ATMs will be available on-site.


Buy tickets online and skip the line at the gate!
 https://watermelonfest.org/

Watch promotional video 2026 https://youtu.be/xZUPHZl8pPA?si=AN-1pgNrhrCzQ7sJ