Chinchilla Melon Fest 2025: Full guide to the dozens of events held over huge weekend

From skiing, chariot racing and the iron man and woman challenges to the Melon Rodeo, big melon weigh-ins and the Melon Beach Party, here is every event in Chinchilla this weekend.

Western Downs residents and guests to the region are in for an action-packed weekend with the return of Chinchilla Melon Fest.

The event kicks off today and ends on Sunday February 16, and is packed full of activities like competitions, watermelon skiing, live entertainment, parades, golf and so much more.

With more than 10,000 attendees forecast and dozens of activities scheduled there's something for everyone this Melon Fest.

Check out our full guide and plan your events ahead of time.

FRIDAY

• Melon Farm Tours, 8.00am – 10.30am

Guests are invited to catch the bus to a local Melon Farm and see how the local produce is grown.

Departure from Chinchilla Botanicals Parklands, Canaga Street, $35 tickets

• Golf – 3 Ball Ambrose, 12.30pm

Hosted at the Chinchilla Golf Club on the Warrego Highway keen golfers can get a team together and have a hit out with their friends.

The game will cost $80 per team and $100 hire per buggy for 9 Holes of 3 Ball Ambrose

To get involved call Scott on 0409 837 164.

• Big Melon Weigh-In, 5pm

Melon growers have been working hard for months planting and growing the biggest watermelon’s possible to try to dethrone the 100.5kg behemoth which took out gold in 2019. Will anyone break the record this year?

To find out head to the Chinchilla Botanical Garden, Colamba St at 5pm.

• Big Melon Weigh-In Kids Competition, 5pm

Also held at the Chinchilla Botanical Garden, Colamba St, come along and watch the kids present their melon for the Kids Weigh-In

• Melon Rodeo, 2pm

The Melon Rodeo, will feature bulls, broncos, barrels, mini bulls for the kids, food and live music and will draw in crowds from across Queensland.

Held at the Chinchilla Showgrounds the event will feature a bar and food trucks with the first rodeo event starting at 3pm.

• Melon Skiing Under Lights & Burgers by the Bar, 6.30pm – 8.30pm

‘Melon skiing under lights and burger by the bar’ will be held after the big melon weigh in and will take place at Chinchilla State Primary School Oval.

Tickets for a table and burgers can be booked online at a cost of $30 adults and $10 per head for 10 years and under.

• Kids Movie Night, 7pm – 9.45pm

Grab a picnic rug and your friends for a family-friendly evening in the beautiful Chinchilla Parklands.

Play in the park, then sit down to enjoy on a screening of Sherlock Gnomes under the stars.

Sausage sizzle, drinks and popcorn will be on sale at the event by the Chinchilla Museum from 6pm and the waterpark will be open until the move starts.

• Melon Fest Beach Party, 5pm – 2am

The Club Hotel is bringing the beach to the bush with their major beach party event.

Party goers can expect plenty of live music, drink specials, food vendors and much more.

Entertainment will include, country singer Luke Geiger, local DJ’s, DJ Damo, DJ 3MC & DJ Will and the muscle contest Best Chest in the West.

For all inquiries contact 4669 1100

Family fun at Chinchilla Melon Fest 2023 on Saturday, February 18. Picture: Peta McEachern

SATURDAY

• Charleys Creek Parkrun, 7am

For those fitness freaks and early birds Charleys Creek will host their park run. The run starts at Rotary Park, near the Commercial Hotel.

• Poets Breakfast 7am – 9am

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Chinchilla Museum while having a laugh with Australia’s top performing bush poets Gary Fogarty & Ray Essery.

Guests are asked to bring a chair and gold coin donation for Chinchilla Cancer Fund Event. Breakfast can be purchased.

• Market Stalls, 7.30am – 3.30pm

On Heeney Street is where guests can find market stalls running for majority of the day.

More than 150 crafts, fashion and food markets will be available.

• Aussie Melon Masterclass 9am – 3.30pm

Location at the Wattle Room, Chinchilla Cultural Centre there will be a number of sessions throughout the day.

9am – Melon Creations: Nutritious Melon Masterclass

12pm – Melon Creations: Nutritious Melon Masterclass

1pm – Engaging Fireside Chats with the Melon Industry

2pm – Melon Creations: Nutritious Melon Masterclass

3.30pm – Engaging Fireside Chats with the Melon Industry

• Kids Entertainment

Location: Auditorium, Chinchilla Cultural Centre

Street Science Summer Spectacular Science Show: 10am – 10.30am

Watermelon themed Glitter Slime Drop-in Workshop: 11.30am – 1pm

Street Science Summer Spectacular Science Show: 2pm – 2.30pm

• Street Parade

The popular Street Parade returns this year from 10am, starting at the top of Heeney St and running from Railway St to the Chinchilla RSL. The theme for this year’s parade is “love melons”.

• Melon Skiing

Melon Skiing requires one person skiing on Melon Skins, squish your feet into a pair of watermelons and ski all the way down the course. This unique event will be held at The Arena (Chinchilla State Primary school Oval) from 12pm – 4pm.

Melon Celebrity Eating, Chinchilla Melon Fest, 2019.

• Melon Bungy, 12pm – 3pm and 3pm – 4pm

This event requires four people, who will be attached to a bungy rope on a slippery mat covered with melon. The aim of the game is to reach and retrieve your melon. Melon bungy can be found at the Arena on the school oval. Held at The Arena (Chinchilla State Primary school Oval).

• Slip Dip & Pull, 12pm – 4pm

See who the strongest team is in the slippery tug of war. Held at The Arena (Chinchilla State Primary school Oval) from .

• Melon Chariot Race, 4pm

Register team of three at Shell’s QGC registration tent from 11am.

Chariots to be made from melon packing cartons, pallets and ready made axles.

The race is held in The Arena from 4pm and participants must aim is to race the entire lap and not fall off.

• Melon Iron Man / Woman, 4pm

Register team of two at Shell’s QGC registration tent from 11am.

Requires two participants per team. Maximum of 20 male teams and 20 female teams. Ironman circuit containing obstacles, challenges and task to showcase the physicality of the Melon Industry. Aim to complete the circuit with an intact melon in the fastest time.

Open division, Melon Dash For Cash on Heeney St, Chinchilla Melon Fest, 2019.

• Melon Dash for Cash, 9am

Located at the Chinchilla State Primary School Oval test your fitness in a mad dash for cash while carrying a whole melon and the melon must be intact when you finish the event.

• Kids Workshops – Howzatt & Circus Fun, 11.30am – 2.30pm

Located at the School Hall their will be two workshops including the Hozatt Kids Workshops and Circus Fun For Kids Workshop.

• Melon Eat Street, 12pm – late

Grab a bite to eat, sit and relax in eat street.

• One In A Melon Pageant, 1pm

Held at the school undercover Area watch the stunning pin ups take to the stage to celebrate the festival.

The Little Pips Parade will also run allowing the opportunity for the little ones to strut their stuff on stage. Entries will be open on the day, and every Little Pip will walk away with a special gift.

• Sponsor Melon Eating, 3pm

Held at the arena in the School Oval watch the sponsors eat as much melon as they can without using their hands.

• Free Melon Feast, 2pm

Try a refreshing slice of delicious melon under the big tree near the arena.

• Free Family Concert, 6pm – late

Held at the Chinchilla State Primary School Oval, sit back, relax enjoy the free family friendly environment. With live music from Kate Ceberano, Rusty Pickups and Glen Ivers

• Drone Show, 6pm – late

Held during the Family Concert look to the skies as the drone show lights up Chinchilla.

SUNDAY

• Poets Breakfast

Enjoy a hearty breakfast from 7am to 9am at the Chinchilla Museum while having a laugh with Australia’s top performing bush poets Gary Fogarty & Ray Essery.

Guests are asked to bring a chair and gold coin donation for Chinchilla Cancer Fund Event. Breakfast can be purchased.

• Melon Fest Sunday Markets, 7am – 12pm

Located at the Polocrosse Grounds enjoy a relaxed Sunday morning browsing through the markets, breakfast & coffee.

For inquiries call 0429 309 909.

Originally published as Chinchilla Melon Fest 2025: Full guide to the dozens of events held over huge weekend