The Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting June 11, 2009 for David Lucena Photography at 1222 South Main in Hope.

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The Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for the brand-new McDonald's in Hope on June 16th, 2009. Hope Mayor Dennis Ramsey was on hand with words of welcome from the city. Ronald McDonald was there along with owners Steve and Celia Montgomery.

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Tracy Byrd will perform at the Hope Watermelon Festival on Saturday, August 8th, 2009 in Hope Fair Park. Gates open at 4 p.m. with Byrd taking the stage at 8:30. Opening the concert will be NewJack and the Rippers and the Night Hawk Band. For more information on the concert and the festival go to http://www.hopemelonfest.com.

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Tracy Byrd's Watermelon Crawl sung by Brad McKinnon for the Hope Watermelon Festival in Hope, Arkansas. The video features film of the Hope Watermelon Festival in 1926. The Hope Watermelon Festival is Arkansas' oldest festival.

Brad McKinnon is the son of Randy McKinnon of Hope who recorded 'Roses and Loves Songs' that scored high on the country charts some years ago. Brad is attending SAU in Magnolia. His MySpace page is http://www.myspace.com/bam8706

Tracy Byrd will perform at the Hope Watermelon Festival on Saturday, August 8th, 2009. Contact the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce for ticket information. Their website is http://www.hopemelonfest.com.

Vintage film was taken by Talbot Feild and provided for use on this web site by Carlene Feild.

The 1926 Watermelon Queen shown in the film was Laurine Lewis, daughter of W.H. Lewis of Hope.

To learn more about Hope, Arkansas' heritage in growing big watermelons go to http://www.giantwatermelons.co m.

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Tracy Byrd will perform at the Hope Watermelon Festival on Saturday, August 8th, 2009 in Hope Fair Park. Gates open at 4 p.m. with Byrd taking the stage at 8:30. Opening the concert will be NewJack and the Rippers and the Night Hawk Band. For more information on the concert and the festival go to http://www.hopemelonfest.com.

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This is video from the summer of 2005 at the Ivan Bright famn near Hope, Arkansas. Two watermelons are picked from the field. The first ends up on the ground in pieces. The second weighs in as the largest watermelon in the world.

Learn more about this year's Hope Watermelon Festival at http://www.hopemelonfest.com

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