Taking to the Farmers Bank & Trust stage promptly at 3:00 p.m. Friday was Carl Jackson, past competitor in Watermelon Idol. He sang country and Caribbean-flavored hits accompanied by his guitar, winning applause after every tune.

Then, starting at 4:00 p.m. the Hope Lions began serving their specially breaded catfish fried to golden brown in 360 degree vegetable oil with coleslaw, baked beans and hush puppies from the Fair Park Community Center. Many dined in but most picked up their meals. 

Debbie Marsh, Hope Lions Treasurer, told us she had tried the fish and it was especially scrumptious this year.

This reporter caught the last of the first-ever Melon Jams open mic performances at FB&T stage. Every performer had fun and the audience found that fun to be catching. 

Tomorrow on the same stage at 9:00 a.m., Dancetastic Studios will perform. At 3:00 p.m. Watermelon Idol Preliminaries begin, hosted by Arnetta Bradford. Nighthawk Band will play there at 5:00 p.m.

Our pictorial of the abovedescribed experiences is below: