Plans are shaping up for the annual Fallon Cantaloupe Festival, which begins its 35th year in less than three weeks at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. Zip Upham, president of the Fallon Festival Association, said at last week’s Fallon Rotary Club meeting both the committee and community are looking forward to the state’s longest running agricultural event. In the mid-1980s, the area’s rich farm land inspired the beginning of the cantaloupe festival, which continues to grow every year. This year’s cantaloupe festival at the Churchill County Fairgrounds is Aug 27-29. Because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Upham said the committee canceled the festival because of the restrictions implemented for attendance. Upham said since the cantaloupe festival is primarily an outdoor event, he doesn’t anticipate any restrictions this year, but he said the governor could issue additional directives. “People are welcome to wear a mask,” Upham said, “but we’ll monitor those mitigations as we continue to go.” Ticket prices remain the same for this year’s festival: One day is $8 for adults and $2 for children 10 and under. A weekend pass is $12 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. “Get your tickets online and you have to stand in line,” Upham stressed. The link for tickets can be found at the following: https://falloncantaloupefestival.ticketspice.com/fallon-cantaloupe-festival-2021. Hours for the festival will be 1 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The weekend event was formerly known as the Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe Festival, but a country fair was eventually added. “We split the country fair but brought it back,” Upham said. The festival and country fair merged together for a second time in 2015 to offer the community one large event. Previously, the country fair was held in August with the festival enjoying a run over the Labor Day weekend. Upham said when the country fair merged with the festival several years ago, the committee made the decision to stage the festival one weekend before Labor Day. By doing so, Upham said the main arena became available for concerts because the Lions Junior Rodeo remained on the Labor Day weekend, and a carnival was available for the last weekend of August. Many of the popular attractions return this year including those that feature the tasty fruit. Upham said the Elks Club Beer Garden will be offering cantaloupe beer brewed by Great Basin Brewing. Troy’s Double Shot Bar has been a favorite stop for its famous cantaloupe daiquiris. Vendors will serve cantaloupe ice cream. Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and Country Fair queen Callie Perez kicks off the first day of the festival that includes a night of country music in the large arena. Local musician Steve Christy begins the evening at 8 a.m. on the main stage followed by the Nashville Stars Live, a show that brings artists together on one stage to personate Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Zac Brown. “It’s an all-country night,” Upham said. Then, on Saturday night, Upham said the music swings to rock with Mustache Kitty taking the stage in the main arena at 8 p.m. The Ultimate Van Halen Experience with musicians impersonating David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar follows at 9 p.m. At the pavilion on Friday night, Dalton Kaady kicks of the festival at 5 p.m., and Will Shamberger wraps up the evening at 6:30 p.m. Music on Saturday begins at 9 a.m. with Nick Casella. Other entertainers include Evan Martin, Marty, Buddy Peterson, Shamberger, Kaade, Annabelle, Chef Clint, Larry Little, The Coaches and Steve and Raena. Upham said Fallon’s own Sam Malcom, a juggler who mixes comedy with his act, will be strolling around the fairground. Over the years, Malcom has developed a following at the festival. Rick Lattin of Lattin Farms is the area’s largest producer of melons, and he’s in charge of this year’s Farmers Market. Upham said exhibits displayed in the multipurpose building include crafts, photograph and quilts — to name a few — and the FFA and 4-H students will be in attendance. “We’ll have carnival rides in the kids’ zone,” Upham added. On Friday morning, the first day of the festival, Upham said the county’s fifth graders will learn more about agriculture. Upham said parking will be an issue this year because of the construction of a new events center. Parking will be available in the northern part of the parking lot or across Miners Road. Upham said shuttles will transport festival-goers to the main gate. In addition to the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival on Saturday, Upham said Pop Warner football is conducting its annual jamboree, a one-day event that attracts more than 90 teams and hundreds of players, cheerleaders and parents. Upham advises festival-goers to arrive early for a good parking spot.
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