Run. Eat watermelon. Spit seeds. Have fun.
All in OKC! July 18th - 7:00pm Lake Hefner (Stars & Stripes Park)
runhers is bringing a slice of one of the coolest rural Oklahoma Festivals to OKC on July 18th – we are partnering with the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival & DG Productions to offer a Free 5K run. We will run a timed 5K, have fresh Rush Springs Watermelon to eat at the finish & even have a watermelon seed spitting contest! We want to have a great time here in OKC and to help raise awareness for our friends in Rush Springs for their Annual Watermelon Festival & 5K.
The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival has been held continuously since 1948. It had its beginning in 1940 and has become one of the most popular festivals in the state. The festival has grown annually since its beginning – and the attendance is now around 30,000 visitors each year. Over 50,000 pounds of watermelons are purchased from area melon growers and served to festival visitors during the day. The festival activities during the day include watermelon exhibits, stage shows, tiny tots contest, free watermelon feed, carnival, and arts/crafts fair. Rush Springs being just 50 miles from Oklahoma City, it’s just a quick easy drive out to the country! And it is well worth it!
There is a Watermelon Run 5K on August 11th as well – with the proceeds benefitting the Rush Springs Track & Cross Country Team. Be sure and register at www.watermelonrun.com Get out and run that morning and then enjoy the day at the one and only Rush Springs Watermelon Festival! A fabulous piece of Americana!
Do you want to know more about watermelons? Here is a great resource for it: www.watermelon.org/ The site has everything from recipes, drinks and nutrition facts to fun activity for the kids! Who knew the watermelon has so many cool things about it! Like these quick facts:
Watermelon is a Fruit
Watermelon is the fruit of a plant originally from a vine of southern Africa. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind and a juicy, sweet, usually red interior flesh.
Picking a Good Watermelon – It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Look the watermelon over.
You are looking for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
2. Lift it up.
The watermelon should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is 92% water – so, most of the weight is water.
3. Turn it over.
The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.
