52nd Watermelon Festival Announces Talent Line-Up, Special Guests, Extra Added Attractions

PASADENA, Calif. - Aug. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- The 52^nd Annual Watermelon Festival announces Talent Line-up, Special Guests, Extra Added Attractions and Sponsors. The festival is at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Festival hours are Friday, August 16, 5:00-10:00pm, Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and August 18, 12:00 to 10:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Advance pre-sale tickets are $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children. Check out the website at www.lionswatermelonfestival.com, or call 818-353-4554.

 
 New and exciting musical acts are Friday night’s headliner is Viza, an internationally acclaimed band known for their erratically amusing blend of energized international rock, at 8:00pm. On Saturday night indie rockers, Sad Robot will blaze the stage at 8:00pm. Highlights for Saturday at 2:00pm is a performance by Radio Disney, Karissa Lee at 3:00pm, followed by festival favorite Artwork Jamal at 4:00pm. The Leela Belly Dance Troupe that has enchanted audiences throughout the Southland is slotted for 5:00pm, followed by Warped Tour alumna rockers Miracle Dolls. Sunday at 1:00pm kids will be delighted by a special performance by Ronald McDonald and 2:00pm Fever the Ghost, an indie punk quartet performs. At 6:00pm power house blues teen trio, fronted by fourteen year old Chase Walker are sure to light up the festivities and 7:00pm is the Landia Band, fronted by David Landia, soon to tour with the Chambers Brothers Reunited. Closing night headliner, at 8:00pm is Big Daddy T Blues band. Also featured on Saturday and Sunday, opening the festivities is choreographer Jacobi Lynn of Aletheia Dance.   
 
Friday nights’ crowd pleaser at 7:00pm is always the Coronation of the Watermelon Queen and Royal court. This year the National Watermelon Queen, Amber Nolin of Alabama, preside over the event.
 
Special Guests on Saturday is Radio Disney from 1:00 to 3:00pm, with games, giveaways and fun, and new this year is KFWB radio’s remote truck from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Sunday Special Guests from 12:00 to 4:00pm is the Kings Ice Crew and the Galaxy Star Squad, both with prizes, contests and giveaways from our favorite Ice Hockey and Soccer teams. 

Extra Added Attractions include a pre-release preview “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2:Revenge of the Leftovers.” One of the animated features film’s characters is a watermelophant! Be sure to stop by to pick up a coloring page, and try to win a poster or stuffed Watermelophant animal, provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The movie opens nationwide, September 27.  Rescued wild animals and cuddly critters will be on hand Saturday and Sunday from the Wildlife Waystation. Barney the Owl, Mr. O the Opossum and Sonic the Pygmy Hedgehog have attended the festival in past years.
 
The 52^nd Watermelon Festival is pleased to announce the National Watermelon Promotion Board as a Silver Sponsor and Yelp as a Bronze Sponsor. This year, watermelons served at the festival are being donated by Van Groeningen & Sons, Inc., of the Yosemite Fresh label, with their display truck decorated in watermelons; George Perry & Sons, Inc., of Perry and Sons label, Melon Up by Timco Worldwide, a C.H. Robinson Company; Sweet Treat by Pappas & Co;. and Dulcinea Farms’ Ruby Bliss label.  Come see the new and improved Watermelon-O-Matic machine, slicing and dicing at the Watermelon Booth. Additionally, Super King Markets is sponsoring the Watermelon Wheel.
 
Favorite activities include the Watermelon Eating Contests at 2:00pm and 4:00pm, the continuous Seed Spitting and Watermelon Bean Bag Toss Contests, and the ever popular Wearable Art Contest. If you are “wearin’ the melon” and want to compete, register in the Lions Den and have your picture taken.
 
The Chef’s Corner features watermelon carving demonstrations by Celebrity Chef Joseph Poon, who has been featured on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the Food Network. Culinary Instructor, Chef Liz Thompson, who has been featured on ABC Channel 7 with “The Food Coach,” Lori Corbin and students from Sculpting Club of the International Culinary Schools at The Art Institute-Inland Empire, a Campus of Argosy University, where she teaches, will also be doing carving demonstrations. The Whole Foods Market, located in Pasadena, is sponsoring the Student Watermelon Carving demonstrations, Hospitality Area and the Watermelon Recipe Contest. Winners will be announced in Appetizers, Entrees, Beverage and Desserts categories. Please check the website for recipe contest rules and demonstration times.

 
The Bazaar marketplace has arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, personal services and product marketing. The Community Courtyard showcases organizations that help the community to thrive. Each booth has information of the respective companies and their important contributions to the community. The Kids’ Area has face painters with glitter and airbrush temporary tattoos provided by Air Brush Body Art by Rocky and classic clowns. Kids will further love the Arcade Games and Carnival atmosphere.
 
Carnival Entertainment is providing the rides that include the Monster Slide, the Ferris Wheel, the Swing, Octopus, Mindwinder and Dragon Wagon, among other attractions.
 
The food court areas feature an array of popular festival and fair favorites and highlight selected watermelon based treats and drinks, as well as beer and wine.
 
Funds raised by the Watermelon Festival are used by the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club help to support local youth and community activities, disaster relief, and to support health and vision conservation programs in California, across the nation and throughout the world.
 
Don’t forget that every admission ticket includes free watermelon slices, a spin on the Watermelon Wheel for additional prizes and…every one is a winner! So, mark your calendars, come have some fun, eat to your hearts delight and be a part of the 52^nd Annual Sunland-Tujunga Lion’s Watermelon Festival August 16 through the 18 at the Rose Bowl, America’s stadium.
  

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For additional information contact: Marcia Groff, Entertainment Enterprises, 310-721-1592, entertainmg@gmail.com or John Forrester, 323-702-3684, john@johnforrester.com.