By Cal Bryant

Special to the News-Herald

The North Carolina Watermelon Festival begins its 28th annual run in Murfreesboro, N.C., on Wednesday.

The town is expected to host up to 40,000 visitors during the Festival’s four-day run.

For Percy and Lynette Bunch of Murfreesboro, an idea hatched more than 25 years ago has evolved into an event they never imagined.

In 1986, Percy Bunch, whose main crops include peanuts and watermelons, had an idea for a Watermelon Day in Murfreesboro.

That year, a parade and four-hour festival, were held in honor of Murfreesboro’s Whitney Cuthbertson, who had won the state watermelon queen title.

Since then, the Watermelon Festival has expanded by leaps and bounds, now encompassing four full days of food, fun and entertainment.

Admission is free, and parking is available in downtown Murfreesboro, only a short walk to the festival grounds. Security is provided by the Murfreesboro Police Department with the assistance of law enforcement agencies in the surrounding communities.

This year’s theme is “NC Watermelon Festival Takes Flight.” This design embraces the town’s historic connection with flight by incorporating the Gatling Airplane, which is flown by the Festival’s mascot, Percy the Ant.

The parade will feature Brian Schrader and Lisa Prince from WRAL-TV 5 as the celebrity grand marshals. Colin Ballance, curator of the Jefcoat Museum of Americana in Murfreesboro, will be the Grand Marshal.

The festival’s opening day will be highlighted by Steve Owen and the Summertime Band on the Broad Street stage from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Local celebrity Jay Jenkins of Woodland will serve as the evening’s DJ.

Also on Wednesday’s agenda is the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce’s steamed shrimp dinner, from 4:30-7 p.m.; amusement rides (the midway opens at 6 p.m. for Family Night, featuring unlimited rides for $20); and Bingo in the Murfree Center, hosted by the Ladies Division of the Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce, starting at 7:30 p.m.

An opening ceremony will be conducted at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Thursday features the Emily Minor Band on the Broad Street stage from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. That day’s agenda also features a trout dinner sponsored by the Murfreesboro Rotary Club, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., and unlimited amusement rides for $20 each.

On Friday, the crafts/antiques fair and the Food Fair open at noon. The Moonshine Band performs at noon, the amusement rides open at 6 p.m. and there is a pork barbecue/friend chicken dinner hosted by Jefcoat Museum from 4:30 to 7 p.m. North Tower will play on the Broad Street stage from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday’s events begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Murfreesboro Baptist Church and end with the Pizaaz Band performing from 7 to 11 p.m. on the Broad Street stage. The state’s largest agricultural parade will take place at 10 a.m. on Main Street, with a 5K run/walk preceding the parade.

Visitors can also enjoy the crowning of the 2012 Watermelon Princess, the selection of Little Mr. and Miss Farmer, watermelon-eating and seed-spitting contests, largest-watermelon contest, helicopter rides, amusement rides, a full afternoon/early evening line-up of entertainment, Bingo at the Murfree Center and a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.

And there will be free slices of homegrown watermelon in the main tent.