 It's Thumpin' Time in Luling!
Climb aboard the Texas Watermelon Express - mmmm!
Some things in Texas just never change - barbeque, cold beer, warm summer days on the coast, the great Texas State Fair - and watermelon thumping time in Luling! Each June more than just the weather heats up in Texas, it's the only time of year you can celebrate the sweet, juicy Texas watermelon, a delicacy dear to the heart of every Texan!
 This year is no exception! The last weekend in June marks the juicy celebration as Texans from across the state filter into this famous town located about 50 miles southeast of Austin.
Royal Sweets, Jubilees and Yellow Dollys - varieties of delicious Luling watermelons, are ripe and ready for plugging, and the 5,000-plus residents of this sweet-crazy community can't hardly wait to get things underway. Like peaches in Stonewall or strawberries in Poteet, Luling can't seem to escape their love affair with their favorite treat - watermelons.
Lulingians have been hosting the annual Watermelon Thump every June since 1954. Now almost 35,000 people show up every year for all sorts of watermelon-related activities, including eating, watermelon carving and a world championship watermelon seed spitting contest. Just how fun does it get?
One of the featured aspects of the festival is the 'largest melon' contest. Each year local growers compete to claim the priuze, then the winning melon is traditionally sent to a preselected celebrity. Former receipients have included Art Linkletter, Johnny Carson and Ronald Reagan.
And just how big do they get? The 1962 largest melon winner still holds the crown, weighing in at 81 pounds. That's a lot of sweet meat!
Getting the most publicity however, because of national television coverage (believe it or not), is the world championship seed spitting contest. Contestants of all ages line up for a chance to beat the Guinness Book World Record and take home the $1,000 prize. And don't think the good folks of Luling don't take their spitting seriously!
There are official seed-spitting songs and yells: "Come on everybody, take a look, (insert name) gonna spit into the record book...." The competition is fierce and the rules are religiously followed. Contestants are docked for spitting in the crowd, and any person caught using non-sanctioned, illegal seeds will be disqualified.
 And, of course, there's plenty of food, live music and dancing - all Texas style. Featured performers this year include country music star Gary Allan, Johnnie Dee and the Rocket 88s, the Texas Unlimited Band, and others.
Also scheduled is a carnival, an arts and crafts festival and an exhibitors market.
For more information, contact the Luling Chamber of Commerce at 830-875-3214.
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Rio Grande Valley
