Not only do we celebrate summer itself in Southern California, but we celebrate just about everything else, too - from flowers and chocolate to tacos and tequila… well, you name it! We love getting outdoors, enjoying food, games, rides, music, and people. Summer festivals are a fantastic activity for families with children of any age, and the Watermelon Festival in Sylmar, CA, is going to be as helpful to the community as it is delicious.

The colorful and tasty California Watermelon Festival will be held on June 17 and 18, 2023 at the Hansen Dam Soccer Fields in Los Angeles County’s San Fernando Valley.

The California Watermelon Festival is a non-profit organization and a portion of the proceeds from this event will go to support Guide Dogs of America, City of Home, Boys and Girls Club SFV, and MEND.

This year’s festival comes with a fun 80s theme, so get ready for an 80s costume contest, a band called The Flux Capacitors and breakdancers, photo ops with ET and the Delorian, and a classic video arcade.

Celebrating all things watermelon, the festival features all-you-can-eat melon, watermelon funnel cakes, sweet watermelon tamales, sour watermelon pizza, watermelon with tan, watermelon sorbet, deep-fried watermelon, and nearly everything else you can think of… like Deep Fried Oreos with Watermelon sauce!

Watermelon will not only appear in sweet bites but in surprisingly savory ones also, like melon-infused tacos with watermelon salsa, watermelon BBQ sauce, watermelon empanadas, and more.

Not that I would, but if you want a break from the melon, there will be plenty of other food and beverage vendors at the festival, too.

Adventurous attendees can have more fun with watermelon than just eating it! The watermelon arena is the site for all kinds of melon madness including group games and competitions like melon skiing, melon bungee pull, and more. Prepare to get messy!

Kids of all ages will enjoy face painting, watermelon eating competitions, a BMX show, a children’s theater, an 80s dance party, a petting zoo and animal demos, and a carnival with games and rides.

The culinary pavilion shows off amazing watermelon-carving skills, cooking demonstrations, and various tastings.

Have your watermelon and drink it, too, with watermelon slushies, smoothies, Aguas Frescas, and cocktails.

Lots of other fun vendors will be on hand as well, featuring arts and crafts, prepared foods, jewelry, and more

No festival is complete without live musical entertainment, and the California Watermelon Festival is no exception. The main stage will feature a number of live bands throughout the event.

This is shaping up to be one sweet event! Will you be attending Southern California’s watermelon festival this year? Get your tickets, and lots of additional information, on the California Watermelon Festival website and keep up-to-date with all things melon by following the California Watermelon Festival on Facebook.

We’ve got you covered when it comes to local events. Check out some of the other festivals and happenings in SoCal.