Turkmen Melon Day

Turkmen Melon Day is marked annually on the second Sunday of August. This holiday was established by the decree of Turkmen President Saparmyrat Niyazov in 1994.

Festivities in honor of the "queen of melon plantations" are held on central squares of cities in Turkmenistan. Representatives of big public associations, establishments of the Association of food industry of Turkmenistan, mass media, famous melon growers and national selectionists usually attend this event.

People go to see concerts of artists that are held within the framework of festivities.

The event usually is closed by traditional melon fare. There are such contests as "Golden melon", "Biggest watermelon" and "Biggest pumpkin". Qualification tours of these contests is held in administrative centers of Turkmenistan.

The festive events dedicated to Melon day is accompanied by performances of folk groups and amateur music groups.