[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11] [Senate] [Page 15139] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]2010 HOPE WATERMELON FESTIVAL Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I congratulate the residents of Hope in my home State of Arkansas as they celebrate the annual Hope Watermelon Festival, a time-honored tradition that commemorates the history and technique of watermelon growing and its importance to the local community. Home to the world's largest watermelon, Hope is a thriving community in southwest Arkansas. Since the 1920s, Hope residents and other Arkansans have gathered to take part in the Watermelon Festival. According to event organizers, the early Watermelon Festivals bear little resemblance to those in recent years. During the 1920s era, citizens served ice-cold watermelon to passengers on the many trains that stopped in Hope. These early festivals brought upwards of 20,000 people in a day to Hope. The end to the first festivals came around 1931 when the city, suffering from the effects of the Depression, could no longer accommodate the crowds. In 1975, the city of Hope celebrated its centennial anniversary, which prompted local residents to consider staging the Watermelon Festival once again. Since the 1970s, the festival has continued to grow, attracting approximately 50,000 visitors to Hope over a 4-day period each year. I am looking forward to attending this year's Watermelon Festival, which will take place August 12-14 at Fair Parkin Hope. Sponsored by the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce, this year's event features southwest Arkansas's largest arts and crafts show, live music, a 5K run/walk, games and children's activities, food, an antique car show, and of course, ice-cold Hope watermelon by the slice. Mr. President, I salute the entire community of Hope and Hempstead County as they celebrate this annual event and enjoy ``a slice of the good life.'' I commend them for keeping the history and heritage of their community alive. ____________________