Newell Watermelon Days

05/12/2026

🎟️ Calling All Small Businesses! 🎟️

We’re looking for local businesses to donate baskets, gift cards, products, services, or promotional items for the Newell Watermelon Days Basket Raffle! 🍉

This is a great opportunity to showcase what your business offers while supporting Newell Watermelon Days — a community tradition that brings people together year after year.

Every donated basket or item will be featured on our page with your business name highlighted so the community can see, support, and shop local businesses like yours! Your donation helps us continue growing this event for our town while also giving your business extra exposure leading up to and during the festival weekend.

💚 Support Newell Watermelon Days
📣 Promote your business
🎉 Connect with the community

Whether it’s a themed basket, gift card, merchandise, coupons, or services — every donation makes a difference!

If you’d like to donate or have questions, please message us! 🍉

🍉We’re excited to introduce a Basket Raffle at this year’s Newell Watermelon Days Event! 🧺🍉

A basket raffle is a fun way to win themed gift baskets—just place your raffle tickets into the ones you’d love to win!

We’re currently looking for donations of baskets or items to help make this fundraiser a success. Message us if you’d like to donate!

04/29/2026

🍉We’re excited to introduce a Basket Raffle at this year’s Newell Watermelon Days Event! 🧺🍉

A basket raffle is a fun way to win themed gift baskets—just place your raffle tickets into the ones you’d love to win!

We’re currently looking for donations of baskets or items to help make this fundraiser a success. Message us if you’d like to donate!

04/28/2026

🍉 Watermelon Days Committee Update 🍉

We are pleased to share that additional community members have recently joined the Watermelon Days Committee. Their willingness to step in and contribute their time and ideas is greatly appreciated as planning continues for this year’s celebration.

These new additions bring valuable perspectives and support to the committee, helping to ensure a successful and enjoyable event for our entire community.

Please join us in welcoming our newest committee members:

Destiny Archer
Megan Sump
Taylor Erie
Wanda Taylor
Ginger Lyman
Justin Lyman
Caitlynn Williams
Jodi Rojas
Megan Miller

We are grateful for their involvement and look forward to the work ahead.

Bringing Newell together—one slice at a time. 🍉

04/21/2026

🍉 Watermelon Days 2026! 🍉

We’re excited to officially announce this year’s Watermelon Days and introduce the amazing group of people working behind the scenes to make it all happen!

This year’s event will take place August 7th, 8th and 9th, and we’ve got a dedicated committee planning a fun, memorable experience for everyone in the community.

👏 Meet the Committee:
• Kelli Rhiner
• Elizabeth Rhiner
• Brandi Ernst
• Kerry Meyer

These individuals have been putting in the time, energy, and ideas to bring you a great lineup of activities, and there’s more to come!

Stay tuned for updates, event details, and ways to get involved. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all! 🍉🎉

08/14/2025

Thank you for attending our Newell Watermelon Days celebration. We hope you had as much fun attending as we did organizing it. We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving. Please fill this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous).

08/11/2025

Thank you for attending our Newell Watermelon Days celebration. We hope you had as much fun attending as we did organizing it.

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving. Please fill this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous).

Thank you for attending our Newell Watermelon Days celebration. We hope you had as much fun attending as we did organizing it. We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving. Please fill this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous).

08/08/2025

Check out these from the 2025 5K. Awesome turn out!!

08/06/2025

We would like to thank everybody who helped us making our 2025 Watermelon Days a success!

Sponsors: BV Journal, Wells Ag Supply, City of Newell, Security Trust & Savings Bank, Fratzke & Jensen, Robin's Hairport, First Community Bank, Siepker Insurance, United Bank of Iowa, Ag State, Rick & Joy Waggoner, Denny & Barb Ziegler, Kris & Del Rieman, Hwy 7 Service Center

Newell American Legion, Newell Food Pantry, Newell Fire Department, Newell Public Library, Newell Historical Society, BV County Sheriff Department, Screwie Louies, Hyvee, Corner Cup & Cone, Shear Unique Designs, Tyson Poultry, Nieland Custom Meats, Power Solutions, Rent-All, Advanced Waste Solutions, Duck King Fun, Storm Lake Candy Co, HolySp Smokes, Newell Pool Project

Volunteers: Justin & Ginger Lyman, Wayne & Bobbie Westergaard, Angie Shedd, Matt & Jill Johnston, Chad & Heather Copp, Destiney Lansink, Lisa Nielsen, Jayme & Many Richter, Cole Moriarty, Mickey Morenz, Gary Morenz, Billy Reiling, Tony Rhiner, Shane Meyer, Ryan & Jess Kruse, John Miller, Brad Mahler, Jaime Kies, Sammy Butler, Aden Butler, Carla Campbell, Jeff Wolterman, Jim Temple, Brandi Ernst, Laura Hansen, Laura Ryherd, Mary Carlson, Debra Davis, Pam & Norm Wolff, Susan Trimpe, Dilynn Mathews, Bryan Haack, Jodi Rojas, Midge Townsend

08/03/2025

Raffle winners!

08/02/2025

08/02/2025

Here are our sacavenger hunt clues! Happy hunting!