History
After World War II, with veterans returning home, organizations began developing and promoting activities to help support their individual communities. In Newberry, the American Legion enthusiastically met the challenge.
The crop of watermelons was the logical choice. With watermelons as a logo, the American Legion held its first Newberry Watermelon Festival in 1946.
Located at a skating rink in the middle of the city, the festival began with many of the same activities still being held today. Free watermelon slices, eating and seed spitting contests were all early favorites of the community. The main events of the festival were, and continue to be, the crowning of the Newberry Watermelon Festival Queen and the winner of the “Big Melon” contest.
The Little Red Schoolhouse and the adjoining Newberry Junior/Senior High School Auditorium were the sites of the Newberry Watermelon Festival from 1988 to 1994. In 1995, the festival returned to the American Legion site on US Highway 26 and remained there until 2000. In search of a larger site in 2001, the committee chose Canterbury Equestrian Showplace, just east of Newberry.
In 2002, the festival committee moved back to the Little Red Schoolhouse and adjoining Newberry High School Auditorium to combine the festival with the dedication of the Little Red Schoolhouse building, which was under renovation off and on since the mid-1970’s. Local and state dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the official opening of one of Newberry’s most treasured city landmarks and were treated to tours through the building and newly-established museum by members of the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum Committee.
In 2005 for the 60th annual festival, the festival committee decided to move the expanding festival back to Canterbury Equestrian Showplace. This will hopefully continue to be the location of the festival, until it is able to purchase its own land and facility.