Photos: Watermelon Bowling at the 30th annual Atkins Watermelon Days festival

See photos as community members competed in a unique variation of 10-pin bowling.

Aug. 9, 2025 6:28 pm, Updated: Aug. 10, 2025 9:54 am

Devyn Krug of Atkins cuts watermelon for distribution during the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. The annual summer festival marks the end of summer and is an opportunity for community members to meet their neighbors and build camaraderie, according to Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Community members enjoy fairground style rides and attractions during the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. The annual summer festival marks the end of summer and is an opportunity for community members to meet their neighbors and build camaraderie, according to Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Contestants try their hand at Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Brixton Dunek, age 7, bowls his melon during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Atkins Mayor Bruce Visser resets pins during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Charlie Nutt, 7, removes the remains of smashed melons from the lane during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Anna Myers of Atkins watches as her melon makes its way toward the pins during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Zander Myers, 8, bowls during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Brixton Dunek, 7, bowls during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

The remains of the “bowling balls” lay scattered along the lane during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

A watermelon explodes just before impact with the pins during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

A watermelon explodes just before impact with pins during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Charli Nutt, 9, bowls during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Patrick Myers bowls during the Watermelon Bowling competition at the 30th annual Watermelon Days festival in Atkins on Saturday. Watermelon bowling follows the same rules as normal bowling, but contestants are limited to a single melon over the contest’s three frames. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

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