History Highlights
 
Going back to the earliest celebrations, among the best attended attractions is always Friday night's street dance in Hampton. But the crowning event of every Watermelon Festival, of course, is the Miss Coastal Empire pageant. Many a Palmetto State beauty has added to the scenery, including the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond's wife, who came as Miss South Carolina (Nancy Moore of Aiken) in 1966, to the 24th Watermelon Festival.

In 1993...the festival expanded to eight days, "Sunday to Sunday." Opening ceremonies were coupled with a new event called "Festival Family Fun Day," sponsored by the Hampton County Chamber of Commerce and held at Lake Warren State Park. The expansion made the Watermelon Festival the third longest festival in the state.
 
A new beauty is picked to be queen of the Coastal Empire every summer, while the same old King Watermelon reigns in glory!