The Tiny Utah Town That Transforms Into A Watermelon Wonderland Each Year
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 09, 2018
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
One of the best things about a Utah summer is the sweet, juicy watermelon. Take one home and put it in your fridge, or better yet, take one on your outdoor adventure and plunge it into an icy mountain creek. Give it an hour or two, then cut it up for the sweetest, coldest treat of the summer. The best place to get your watermelon? The little town of Green River, of course!
The tiny town of Green River only has around 1,000 residents, but it's a close-knit community surrounded by the natural beauty of the San Rafael Swell, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Goblin Valley State Park.
Located along I-70 in the eastern part of Utah near the Utah/Colorado border, it's the last town travelers see before they undertake one of the most desolate stretches of highway in the country - there are 107 miles without services between Green River and Salina.
It's set against some picturesque country, and the beautiful Green River runs right through it. Nowadays, Green River is known for its outdoor recreation, but it's also well-known for something else...
By mid-July the melons are ripe, and the farmers stands are overflowing with melons. In addition to watermelons, you'll find a variety of other melons like cantaloupe, honeydew, canari, and lambkin.
...and a town dinner. Other festivities include a car show, princess and queen pageants, a Melon Run 5k, pancake breakfast, softball tournament, and concert.