Summer doesn't officially start until June 21, but locals can get into the sunny spirit by celebrating Watermelon Day at the Volusia County Farmers Market on Wednesday.
From 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., vendors and county extension agents will give out free samples, and visitors can compete in seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests, county spokeswoman Pat Kuehn said.
Coloring books and stickers will be available to children, and visitors can meet Florida Watermelon Queen Camri Campbell and National Watermelon Queen Savannah Christensen.
Watermelon Day is put on at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension, the Volusia County Farm Bureau and the Florida Watermelon Promotion Board.
For additional information, call Karen Stauderman, commercial horticulture extension agent, at 386-822-5778.