In 1954, Hermon Allen, principal of the Luling Elementary School, proposed the idea of a celebration to honor the growers and promote the Luling watermelon market. A contest was held to name the event and the winner was a young man from Luling High School, Mr. Carol Ferguson. From that time, the Thump has been held the last Thursday through Sunday in June.
 
Time changes everything and the Thump has been no exception. Numerous events and attractions have been added and the 4 day annual event now draws an estimated 30,000 visitors to a town of 5,000.

Schedule of Events:

June 26, 2025

5:00pm Gates open
5:00pm Carnival, Food Court, Beer Garden, and Market at Thump open
5:30pm Champion Melon Judging
7:00pm Queen’s Coronation
After Coronation there will be live music on the Thump Pavilion Main Stage
12am Closing

Bands:
8:00 pm – 12:00 am: The Barditch Hippies

June 27, 2025

5:00pm Gates open $5 per person
5:30 pm Children’s Individual and Team Seed Spitting Contest
8:30pm -12am Music on beer garden stage (free with gate charge)
8:00pm – 12am Live music on Thump Pavilion Main Stage (tickets available at gate and online)
12am Closing

Bands:
8:00pm – MAIN STAGE
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm: America Cuevas
10:30 pm – 12:00 pm: La Maquinaria Nortena
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Rader and the River Rats
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm: Dean Willeford Band
10:00 pm - 11:30 pm: SALTFLAT BLVD

June 28, 2025

10:00am Thump Parade
12:30pm Melon Eating Contest
1:00pm Live music in Pavilion
1 pm Music on the Beer Garden Stage on Davis – music will be all day and evening
2pm Gates $5 per person
3:00pm Champion Watermelon Auction
4:30pm World Championship Seed Spitting Contest
6:00pm-1am Live music on Thump Pavilion Main Stage (tickets will be available at gate and online)
1am Closing

Bands:
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm: Ty Myers
11:30 pm – 1:00 am: Braxton Keith
1:00pm - 2:30pm: Travis Gibson and Zack Talbert
2:30pm - 4:00pm: Ryan Snipes and Tony Taylor
4:30pm - 6:00pm: Off The Railz (Rock)
8:30pm - 10:00pm: Jamie Krueger Group

June 29, 2025

10:00am Car Show
12pm Lil Growers Check In
1:00pm Lil Growers Watermelon Weight In
2:00pm Music on Main Stage
2:30pm Salute to Veterans
3:00 pm Adult Team Seed Spitting Contest
6:00 pm Festival Closing

Bands:
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Tiffiny Dawn Band

Date: June 26-29, 2025

Location: Watermelon Thump, 421 East Davis Street, Luling, TX 78648

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