When you think of summer, what foods come to mind for you? I think of corn on the cob, pasta salad, burgers and brats, s'mores — and watermelon! Summer wouldn't be summer without it, right?
August 3 is National Watermelon Day. We're in the peak of watermelon season, so it's the perfect time to enjoy and appreciate the delightful qualities of watermelons, share recipes, and come together to celebrate this beloved summer fruit.
We've got 5 fun ways to help you celebrate National Watermelon Day today — or anytime you want to feel like summer again!
1. Start with a giggle.
Q. When does red mean "go" and green mean "stop"?
A. When you're eating a watermelon!
2. Learn a new word.
Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable. Botanically, it belongs in the fruit category because it develops from a flower and contains seeds. However, it is also classified as a vegetable because it is in the cucumber family.
The Cucurbitaceae family encompasses about 975 species of food and ornamental plants, including cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash, and watermelons.
Learn how to say your new word and impress everyone at your next backyard barbecue!
3. Try to break a record.
Watermelons have captured the attention of enthusiasts and farmers around the world. Below are some record-breaking watermelon facts... can you beat them?
- Heaviest Watermelon: In 2020, Chris Kent from Tennessee grew a colossal watermelon that weighed an astonishing 350.5 pounds (approximately 158.76 kilograms).
- Longest Watermelon: In 2019, Ashok Kumar Yadav in India grew the longest, measuring an impressive 5 feet and 7.4 inches (approximately 1.71 meters) long.
- Fastest Time to Eat a Watermelon: In 2021, competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi from Japan devoured an entire watermelon in just 17.91 seconds.
- Most Watermelons Held on the Head: In 2019, a performer named S. Pavithra from India simultaneously balanced 31 watermelons on her head.
- Farthest Distance Spit of a Watermelon Seed: In 1989, Jack J. of Luling, Texas (home of the annual Watermelon Thump Festival in June) spit a watermelon seed an amazing distance of 75 feet 2 inches (22.91 meters).
4. Make watermelon art.
Since it's in the same family as pumpkins, why not carve it like one? Be sure to wash the watermelon thoroughly, then slice off a small portion of the bottom to create a flat base to help stabilize it. Cut off the top, scoop out the fruit, and begin creating!
You can make something simple, like a watermelon bowl, by simply cutting the watermelon in half and using various kitchen gadgets (like a lemon zester or channel knife) to cut designs in the rind.
Our shark watermelon is the perfect snack for hot summer days, pool parties, or any time you want to get an extra squeal of delight out of your kiddos — and it's not nearly as complicated as it looks!
Get step-by-step instructions here.
5. Eat it!
The best way to celebrate National Watermelon Day is to eat it, of course! Slice it up, scoop it into balls, or dice it into chunks. Eat it plain or sprinkle it with a bit of salt.
Watermelon adds a new twist to different recipes, and it's good for you too! It's an excellent source of Vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant) and a valuable source of lycopene, which may help reduce the risk of prostate, breast, lung, and colon cancers. And at less than 50 calories per cup, you can eat your fill without hesitation.
Here are some of our favorites to try:
- Two-Ingredient Watermelon Frozen Pops
- Five-Ingredient Watermelon Salsa
- Watermelon and Tomato Salad
- Frozen Watermelon Margaritas (with or without alcohol)
