The California Watermelon Festival started in the early ’60s in Sunland-Tujunga Park, CA. At that time, it was called the “Lions Club” Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival. It was hosted there until the park became too small for the event. Eventually, management moved it to the Pasadena Rose Bowl one year and Santa Anita Park another year. Ultimately, the event was relocated to Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, which offered a cooler and more centralized location accessible from Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Los Angeles County.

At this time, leadership shifted and the festival was renamed the “California Watermelon Festival.” The new objective was to create the most creative festival using a “Watermelon Theme” with food, games, and visuals.

For the last 4 years, the festival’s creative team has brought memorable experiences that no other festival has attempted. Some ideas were inspired by “Watermelon Ski,” Live Graffiti Art, Unique watermelon dishes served by our food vendors, and massive visual art. However, the tradition of serving free watermelon (all-you-can-eat watermelon) will always be the staple of the festival.

Our watermelon is the sweetest you’ll ever taste. We carefully worked with a watermelon grower and selected the land to start growing watermelons just in time for the festival. Once the watermelon is ripe, it’s cleaned, refrigerated, and transported within 3 days to the festival, where the watermelons are washed, sanitized, cut, and served by the Mission College Culinary department.

We hope you continue to enjoy “A Slice of California” at the California Watermelon Festival.