Close to 20,000 people from Australia and beyond our fair shores are expected to create quite the mess when the 11th biennial Chinchilla Melon Festival takes place from February 14 to 17, 2019.
Founding committee member Darryl O’Leary said the festival, which will celebrate its 25th birthday in 2019, has only grown in popularity over the years
“I think the ongoing appeal of the festival lies in the fact that it’s community-based, fun and quirky; it’s the only place you can go watermelon skiing anywhere in the world,” Mr O’Leary said.
“In addition to the renowned melon skiing event, we’ll have a host of other events for guests to get involved with, including a pip spitting competition, melon chariot races, and melon bungy, rodeo, a beach party, a street parade, and a melon farm tour. The best part is it’s all free,” he said.
Mr O’Leary said all the non-consumable melons used in the events are pollinators for seedless varieties which can’t be sold, so wastage isn’t an issue.
“We used close to 22 tons of melons last year with around 15 tons of that used in the games, while the rest was eaten or sold.”
He said the festival originated by chance when a Chinchilla-based melon grower came across a similar event while visiting the US.
“We were going through another dry spell back then, so when we heard about the concept the whole community got on board, and away it went.”
As well as providing a top time for all, Mr O’Leary said the festival provides great economic benefits for the district.
“We encourage all community organisation in Chinchilla and surrounding districts to get involved, as the festival provides a great fundraising opportunity.
“From what I was told close to $3m went out of cash registers in town last year, and all up the event bought close to $7m into the districts economy.
“It’s a boon for everybody in the community, which is essentially why we run it.”
- For festival information and accommodation enquiries please visit melonfest.com.au
