This Independence Day, Pauls Valley will celebrate with a nationally-renowned watermelon seed-spitting contest, family events and firework displays. Immortalized in the original edition of the popular, best-selling family board game, Trivial Pursuit, the annual Watermelon Seed Spittin' World Championship has become synonymous with Pauls Valley. Held in conjunction with the city's 4th of July fireworks show, this contest has been a Pauls Valley tradition for more than 50 years. This event has garnered international recognition and is well known for being a nostalgic, family-friendly event.

Since 1957 when the contest began, the Watermelon Seed Spittin' World Championship has been featured in the Guinness Book of Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not. Come and witness participants in six age-based categories attempt to break the record of Jack Dietz of Chicago. Dietz launched a seed 66 feet 11 inches in 1989. Registration begins at 6pm in the football stadium at Wacker Park. Registration and admission to the event is free, but space is limited for contestants so be sure to be on time to sign up.

Stick around for more Independence Day events in and around Pauls Valley.  Enjoy a good old-fashioned hamburger and hot dog cook-out with ice cold drinks and end the day with a hand-launched fireworks display at dark.  Come early and enjoy live music by local entertainers.