The California Watermelon Festival is back

Looking for a fun event to hang out with family and friends? Look no further, because the California Watermelon Festival is back for another year of watermelon drinks, dishes and desserts; live music; arts and crafts; carnival rides and games; and many more fun activities for everyone.

The California Watermelon Festival takes place Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Hansen Dam Recreation Area Soccer Fields in Los Angeles. That's an area equal to four football fields.

The California Watermelon Festival started in the early 1960s in Sunland-Tujunga Park, located in the San Fernando Valley. At that time, it was called the Lions Club Sunland-Tujunga Watermelon Festival. It was hosted at the park until it became too small for the event. 

Eventually, it moved to the Pasadena Rose Bowl for one year and then to Santa Anita Park for another year. Ultimately, the event was relocated to Hansen Dam Soccer Fields, which offers a cooler and more centralized location accessible from Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, and the rest of Los Angeles County. 

A southland tradition, the California Watermelon Festival offers “a sweet slice of California,” celebrating the beginning of summer with a vibrant California harvest. Recently the festival has undergone major expansion in both size and variety. 

This year’s festival will feature unique and gastronomically adventurous watermelon-inspired culinary creations and an enhanced, bigger, better, "funner" Kids Zone that children will love. There will be a kids' watermelon contest, a watermelon costume contest, a kids' bubble show, face painting, slime creation, a petting Zoo, a talent show and many more activities.

The event will feature live bands and DJs spinning everything from Top 40s and '80s hits to rockabilly, rock en español, cumbia and swing. Catch performances by The Moontones, Hot Rod Trio, Past Action Heroes, Exaband, Cómplice, Anything for Latinos, Golden State Band and The LAX Collection. This year's festival will also include demonstrations from graffiti artists, watermelon carving stations and a car show. 

Bring a big appetite to enjoy the unique watermelon-inspired dishes created by some of today's most adventurous chefs experimenting with the many flavors of summer, such as watermelon tacos, watermelon pupusas, watermelon cannoli, watermelon cheesecake, watermelon ceviche, deep-fried watermelon, watermelon micheladas and watermelon sushi.

Additionally, whole fresh watermelons will be available for purchase, as well as sliced watermelon, either plain or with delicious spicy chamoy.

"We've gone all out to make this year's Watermelon Festival not only fun for the whole family, but we want you and your family to come back each year, making the Watermelon Festival Southern California's launch into summer fun for generations to come,” said Edward Campos, festival owner.

Buy tickets online and skip the line at the gate! 

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 10 p.m.

When: Saturday, June 7 & Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Location: Hansen Dam Recreation Area Soccer Complex, 11400 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342.