
Watermeon Fest in Straffordville celebrated its 15th anniversary this past weekend. The festival impressed Festivals and Events Ontario last March when it received recognition as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario. On Saturday (August 25) it impressed festival attendees with a bigger-than-ever line-up of activities and the star attraction – watermelon!
A display at the event noted the festival’s successful fifteen years as a partnership between a group of dedicated local volunteers and the Municipality of Bayham
A display at the event noted the festival’s successful fifteen years as a partnership between a group of dedicated local volunteers and the Municipality of Bayham
The day was hot and sunny – one of those on which watermelon is best enjoyed. Along with watermelon spitting and eating contests, there was a parade, children’s activities, local musical entertainment, dog agility show and birds of prey show.
Check out some photos from Watermelon Fest below. Then, why not cut open one of the sweet, juicy treats to enjoy on this last long weekend of summer. Or perhaps try a Cucumber Watermelon salad with your barbecue, recipe below.
Check out some photos from Watermelon Fest below. Then, why not cut open one of the sweet, juicy treats to enjoy on this last long weekend of summer. Or perhaps try a Cucumber Watermelon salad with your barbecue, recipe below.
Ontario Greenhouse Cucumber & Watermelon Salad

Ingredients
5 lbs. seedless or regular watermelon
2 cups (500 g) Ontario greenhouse cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ cup (125 g) red onion, slivered
1/3 cup (170 ml) cider vinegar
3 tbsp. (45 g) fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp. (30 g) sugar
Fresh basil sprigs
Salt and pepper to taste
method
Cut watermelon into cubes to make 6 cups.
In a shallow bowl, gently mix watermelon pieces with cucumber, onion, vinegar, basil leaves and sugar.
Garnish with basil sprigs. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
finishing touches
Cucumber water is a great pairing for this refreshing salad. To maximize all parts of the Ontario greenhouse cucumber, add left over ends of cucumbers or slices into a pitcher of ice water. This makes for a thirst quenching beverage. Serves 6
Nutritional Facts per serving (273 g): Calories 80
Fat 0.4 g (1 %), Saturated Fat 0 g + Trans Fat 0 g (0 %), Cholesterol 0 mg,
Sodium 55 mg (2 %), Carbohydrate 20 g (7 %), Fibre 1 g (4%), Sugars 16 g,
Protein 2 g, Vit A (15 %), Vit C (30 %), Calcium (2 %), Iron (6 %).
% = % Daily Value
Source: OGVG, http://www.ontariogreenhouse.com/, with permission
5 lbs. seedless or regular watermelon
2 cups (500 g) Ontario greenhouse cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ cup (125 g) red onion, slivered
1/3 cup (170 ml) cider vinegar
3 tbsp. (45 g) fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp. (30 g) sugar
Fresh basil sprigs
Salt and pepper to taste
method
Cut watermelon into cubes to make 6 cups.
In a shallow bowl, gently mix watermelon pieces with cucumber, onion, vinegar, basil leaves and sugar.
Garnish with basil sprigs. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
finishing touches
Cucumber water is a great pairing for this refreshing salad. To maximize all parts of the Ontario greenhouse cucumber, add left over ends of cucumbers or slices into a pitcher of ice water. This makes for a thirst quenching beverage. Serves 6
Nutritional Facts per serving (273 g): Calories 80
Fat 0.4 g (1 %), Saturated Fat 0 g + Trans Fat 0 g (0 %), Cholesterol 0 mg,
Sodium 55 mg (2 %), Carbohydrate 20 g (7 %), Fibre 1 g (4%), Sugars 16 g,
Protein 2 g, Vit A (15 %), Vit C (30 %), Calcium (2 %), Iron (6 %).
% = % Daily Value
Source: OGVG, http://www.ontariogreenhouse.com/, with permission