Winterville is a great family town where folks are at ease among neighbors and friends.
IN THIS ISSUE
Photo by Amy Lima Photos
e Winterville Chamber of Commerce has a big job in our small town: support local businesses, foster community connections and help make Winterville a fantastic place to live, work and visit. In other words, ensure everyone has a Slice of the Good Life.
In a town like ours, where small businesses are the backbone of the local economy, we must be creative, inclusive and constantly collaborating with others to help every business and individual thrive as Winterville grows.
Supporting our local businesses is a big part of what we do, and we know how unique our town is. Many of our members are small, o en family-owned businesses or “solopreneurs” — business owners who wear many hats as they juggle everything from marketing to accounting. A lot of what I preach is the power of interpersonal connections. e more people you know and the more they become invested in you, the further your business will reach.
We host a lot of networking events to facilitate that. ey bring together business owners and community members al-
lowing them to connect, share ideas and build relationships. ese events create a ripple e ect of support and collaboration that helps our businesses succeed. I enjoy getting creative and nding new types of events to host. Some of my favorite recent events are Speed Networking, Portraits and Pints and our Student Business Mixer.
But it’s not just about networking. We know the challenges that come with running a small business. at’s why the chamber o ers educational opportunities featuring speakers who cover topics that really matter, like website design, social media marketing, bookkeeping and commercial insurance. I’m always working to connect with more of our area’s resources so we can be sure our businesses are utilizing all that is available to them.
e key to much of what we do can be summed up in one word: collaboration. e chamber works with town departments, our small business centers, local organizations, our schools and, of course, lots of local businesses.
Winterville is changing and growing fast, and we want to make sure that growth is positive for everyone. From promoting our businesses to organizing events, we’re all about build-
The Winterville Chamber of Commerce works to promote local businesses with events like ribboncutting celebrations and gatherings like Business After Hours. Here, community members are gathered at Meeting Ground Cafe. (Photo by Amy Lima Photos)
A note from the chamber / Rebecca Caveness
The chamber helped celebrate the grand reopening of Sweet Porpos Rolled Ice Cream and Bakeshop on Sept. 14. Owner Gloria Jinks, with the big scissors, cut the ribbon. (Photo by Amy Lima Photos)
ing a strong community.
A couple of years ago, with the town’s support, we took on the “Market on the Square” series to provide a platform for mobile, home and arts-based businesses, local musicians and community outreach opportunities. Plus, we found a way to provide ribbon cuttings for businesses of all kinds by creating a partnership with the Winterville Historical and Arts Society to utilize the Winterville Train Depot as a venue. Now any business that serves Winterville, even those that don’t have a brick-and-mortar, can celebrate their milestones.
Our chamber is also committed to giving back to the community that gives us so much. From community outreach events like Glow Mini Golf and Fright Fest to our anksgiving Meals Initiative and soliciting donations for Winterville Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program, we strive to make a di erence beyond the business world. I’m proud to serve on the board of the Winterville Watermelon Festival and partner with the town on many initiatives, knowing that these e orts make Winterville feel like home for everyone. Since taking on my role as chamber director in 2021, I’ve had the privilege of working with so many wonderful people, building relationships with community partners and seeing rsthand how much we can achieve when we work together. Our chamber is here to serve, support and welcome all, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next for Winterville.
Rebecca Caveness is executive director of the Winterville Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Director Rebecca Caveness takes a selfie with friends at Ridgewood Elementary. Supporting local schools is a chamber priority.
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Winterville Parks and Recreation Director Diane White hangs out with staff during the town’s first glow golf event, held in partnership with the chamber on Oct. 11. (Contributed photo)
Time flies when you’re having fun
A note from Parks & Recreation / Diane White
I can’t believe it’s been over a year since my rst day as the Parks and Recreation Director for Winterville! We have been going non-stop and aren’t planning to slow down anytime soon.
In youth programs and sports, we added a few new o erings. is past winter and spring, we introduced a track and eld/cross country conditioning program for ages 5-18, designed for anyone interested in running, eld sports or staying conditioned. For the rst time o ering this program, we had 30 participants sign up.
When I say we’ve been going non-stop, I mean it! My rst run overseeing the Winterville Spring Cal Ripken Baseball season was a success, with four out of the ve Winterville Cal Ripken All-Star teams moving on from the 2024 Eastern North Carolina State Tournaments in Swansboro to compete in the Southeast Regionals along the East Coast, from Virginia down to Florida.
e Winterville Cal Ripken 12-Year-Old All-Star Team competed in St. Johns, Florida, from July 17-20, winning the 2024 12U Southeast Regional Tournament and becoming the rst Winterville team to win a Southeast Regional Tournament. By becoming the 2024 Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Cal Ripken Champions, they quali ed to represent the Southeast at the Babe Ruth Cal Ripken World Series in Branson, Missouri, from Aug. 7-18.
A er seeing how popular the Daddy-Daughter Dance was, I wanted to plan something special for the moms. On July 27, we hosted our rst Mommy & Me Tea Party. Moms and children dressed in their nest tea party attire and enjoyed tea, scones and fun times with family and friends. It was a sweet event we look forward to hosting again next year! We’re always looking for new activities to bring to the community! Partnering with the Winterville Chamber and with special thanks to sponsors, we introduced an exciting new activity: Glow Vibe Golf! Whether hanging out with friends, enjoying a date night or having a family night out, everyone could participate — even the little ones! e 18-hole putt-putt course, glowing in the dark, was a hit. Despite the occasional lines, everyone seemed to enjoy it, with other games, cra s and food vendors available to entertain all ages. We can’t wait to bring it back next year!
Diane White is the director of the Winterville Parks & Recreation Department.
Alongside new programs, sports and events, we’re also updating the Winterville Parks & Recreation Comprehensive and Site-Speci c Master Plans this year. During the Winterville Watermelon Festival, McGill & Associates and our recreation sta connected with the community to hear what residents and non-residents want to see.
Winterville is growing, and so is our recreation department! anks to the Accessible Parks Grant we received in August, we’ll have some updates at Winterville Recreation Park in the coming year, including upgrades to enhance accessibility.
Just wait — there’s a lot more to come!
Glow Vibe Golf drew a big, enthusiastic crowd to the Recreation Park on Sylvania Street to enjoy the fun. (Contributed photo)
The Winterville Cal Ripken 12-Year-Old All-Star Team qualified to represent the Southeast Region at the Babe Ruth Cal Ripken World Series in Branson, Missouri, from Aug. 7-18. (Contributed photo)
EMS IS WHAT RICK BRITT DOES
By Ginger Livingston
A childhood dream that evolved into an adult passion led to 37 years of community service for one Winterville man.
Rick Britt, chief of Winterville Fire-Rescue-EMS and deputy chief of the Town of Winterville Fire Department, is one of three people nominated in the Most Dedicated Public Servant category of the Winterville Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Community Awards.
e letter nominating Britt said he “has led with integrity and humility and has earned the respect of everyone in our region.”
e letter also stated that “as the busiest EMS unit in the county, the level of professionalism is second to none.” Britt downplays his role.
“What I do with re and EMS, that’s my hobby,” Britt said. “I am not in Jaycees or Kiwanis or Rotary Club or anything like that. EMS is what I do.”
While Rescue and EMS operate as part of the town’s FireRescue-EMS Department, it’s actually a nonpro t organization. Britt describes it as being “married at the hip” with the
re department. Both entities share a building and respond to calls together.
Britt joined the Winterville Fire Department in December of 1987.
“Every boy wants to be a reman when they grow up, right? I guess I never outgrew that,” he said. “Fire service and EMS are rst cousins if they are not even closer than that, attached at the hip.”
Britt slipped into emergency medical services several years into his service. Fire prevention programming and increased use of household smoke detectors brought down the number of re service calls. In the meantime, the growing population in Winterville and Pitt County meant the number of EMS calls were increasing.
“I took EMT classes and joined the EMS squad as a volunteer and volunteered for 12 years,” Britt said.
In the early 2000s, state changes in EMS led to Pitt County government implementing a paramedic responder program across the county.
e eight volunteer EMS squads began training volunteers
Winterville Fire-Rescue-EMS Chief Rick Britt is among three people nominated in the Most Dedicated Public Servant category of the Winterville Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Community Awards. (Photo by Ginger Livingston)
and hiring paid paramedics. Britt became one of the volunteers who trained to become a paramedic.
Even though he has a full-time job as a trust o cer with Wells Fargo, he became EMS chief 17 years ago, taking on the responsibilities of scheduling, managing the budgets and other administrative tasks while also responding to calls.
He also continues as a re department volunteer.
Britt said at one point he thought about making EMS his career but decided continuing with Wells Fargo and volunteerism would better serve his family and community.
e nominating letter said Britt was in charge of implementing the Pulsepoint App in Pitt County. e app noti es citizens who are trained in CPR if they are in proximity to a cardiac arrest call. Britt said he brought the idea to a committee of emergency medical responders who agreed on the idea.
Pitt County Emergency Management secured a grant that paid to integrate the app’s technology into the county 911 center.
Britt said he thought the process would work because in North Carolina students have to learn CPR to graduate from high school. Combined with training undertaken by teachers and coaches, North Carolina has a sizable population with CPR training, he said.
Britt said grants were obtained to get automated external debrillators in sheri ’s cars and other rst responder vehicles, allowing them to begin cardiac resuscitation if they arrive on the scene before EMS teams.
Britt’s nominating letter said these advances have generated record-setting cardiac arrest save rates in the Winterville community and Pitt County.
Britt said the records are the result of Pitt County Emergency Management, the City of Greenville and entities being willing to pursue life-saving technology.
He also gives credit to Winterville Fire Chief David Moore and Pitt County Assistant Emergency Management Director Jim McArthur for pursuing innovations and work with doctors at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine for advancing emergency medical care training.
He also sings the praises of Jason Jackson, assistant EMS chief.
“I can’t do it without him, he’s phenomenal. He is where the rubber hits the road,” Britt said.
Britt said he was surprised and humbled by his nomination in the Most Dedicated Public Servant category.
“I don’t know where it came from. I would just as soon stay under the radar,” he said. “ at’s just how I am.” e best rewards are the reunions, meeting people he helped on a call or who provided life-saving cardiac care before EMS arrived.
In recent years he cut back on going on calls because he had total shoulder replacement on his right shoulder.
He’s also enjoying spending time with his grandchildren.
“If I ever did anything wrong or not just right it wasn’t because I didn’t try. ere are some tough calls out there but it wasn’t for lack of trying,” he said.
Even though he has a full-time job as a trust officer with Wells Fargo, Britt became EMS chief 17 years ago, taking on the responsibilities of scheduling, managing the budgets and other administrative tasks while also responding to calls.
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(Photo by Ginger Livingston)
Hamilton, Roberson make a difference
A longtime Winterville councilwoman and a 10-year veteran of the police department also are finalists for the Winterville Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Community Awards in the category of Most Dedicated Public Servant. The nominees are Winterville Police Department Sgt. Charles Hamilton and City Councilwoman Veronica Roberson.
According to the nomination form, Sgt. Charles Hamilton joined the Winterville force in 2014 and “promotes community engagement and education, enhancing public safety and providing valuable resources to law enforcement.”
A retired sergeant first class with the North Carolina Army National Guard, he served two tours in Iraq. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree and several law enforcement certificates.
He coordinates traffic enforcement efforts across nine county agencies as part of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. He has led DWI enforcement efforts and educates others in DWI detection.
“Through his military and law enforcement careers, ongoing education and commitment to community service, Charles exemplifies leadership, dedication and a passion for making a positive impact,” according to the chamber.
Councilwoman Veronica Roberson, who has served on the town council since December 2007, was called “a dedicated servant of Winterville (who) has been a pillar of this community, consistently demonstrating her passion for its growth and well-being.”
She has been involved with Sheppard Memorial Library and the Mid-East Commission.
A retired teacher, Roberson also serves as the council’s liaison for the Human Relations Council. The nomination also recognized her dedication to her church.
“With deep ties to Winterville, she exemplifies what it means to serve with heart and purpose,” said the nominating form.
The winners of the Community Awards will be announced at the chamber’s annual celebration on Dec. 12.
VERONICA ROBERSON Winterville City Councilwoman
SGT. CHARLES HAMILTON Winterville Police Department
Tristyn Daughtry, Winterville’s economic development planner, poses for a photo at Coopers Cup in downtown Winterville. Daughtry assumed her role in July and brings a wealth of experience in academia to the town which she said is “booming.”
(Photo by Pat Gruner)
Tristyn Daughtry hits ground running to help town grow NEW ECONOMIC PLANNER TAKES REINS
By Pat Gruner
Winterville’s economic development and planning o ce is bene ting from the wisdom of a new Pitt County-raised sta er, who said the town’s continued growth intersects with the need for small businesses.
Tristyn Daughtry grew up o of Worthington Road and is a graduate of D.H. Conley High School. She went on to swim at Campbell University before nishing her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University, where she also earned her MBA.
A er graduation she worked with the university’s RISE 29 student entrepreneurship program, which helps new small business owners get o the ground and strengthens existing businesses with long-term planning assistance. Daughtry was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Community Engagement Award for her e orts with RISE 29 by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, a nonpro t aimed at building strong university-community partnerships.
Now, Daughtry is taking what she learned in academia to her new role as Winterville’s economic development planner.
“When this position became available it was kind of an opportunity for me to not do it from the university setting outward, but to really go into the community and do what I’ve been doing for a community that I grew up in and have ties to,” Daughtry said.
Daughtry began her role in July and has hit the ground running. e town’s economic development and planning o ces are merged entities overseen by Stephen Penn, the town’s planning and economic development director.
“Her background and wealth of knowledge in the economic development eld has brought tremendous opportunity to the town, its businesses and citizens,” Penn said. “Her versed background is uniquely di erent from our current sta and is a huge compliment to our existing department and e orts. Being from this area, she is well connected to the community and has a deep desire to help this area continue to grow into the family friendly town that it’s known for while adding amenities, businesses and developments that help complement the existing community and market.”
Rebecca Caveness, executive director of the Winterville Chamber of Commerce, said that Penn had led the town’s economic development program on his own for a number of years. When Daughtry came to the table, she immediately impressed the chamber director with her condence and know-how.
“Sitting down with her has been very quick to be assured on everything,” Caveness said. “She has such a great background in everything she’s done with ECU and working with small businesses. She has great ideas and isn’t afraid to bring them to the table.
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“I love that. Somebody who knows what they’re talking about and isn’t afraid to speak it.”
Caveness said Daughtry has also been integral in helping her brainstorm a program that would help direct entrepreneurs to existing local resources, such as Pitt Community College’s Small Business Center, and also pair business owners with mentors to help guide them. While that program is just a thought right now, Caveness said Daughtry has “blown (her) away” with ideas to make it a reality.
Daughtry said that historically, economic development focused on courting industry. at’s all well and good, but in rural eastern North Carolina small businesses have an important role, she said. e town is “booming,” she added, with 1,4001,600 homes of various prices under construction. With more residents comes a need to match the growth commercially.
“ at’s really the backbone of our economy,” Daughtry said. “Our downtown is doing a lot of interesting things. You can see people coming during the evenings on golf carts or by car and
people are hanging out here. We have two incredible breweries. Tie Breakers has been a huge addition in our downtown. “ en, you have places like Coopers Cup which has opened recently that are supporting our ower shop, our dance studio, di erent businesses that are kind of collaborating to have this really cool downtown experience.”
Winterville also bene ts from major chains like Lowe’s Food, which opened at its newly constructed shopping center in May, Daughtry said. She said that businesses are already moving into the shopping center, including a Burrito Shak restaurant which opened on Nov. 6. Club Pilates, Glo MedSpa and a nail salon are expected to move into the center soon as well. “ ere’s a lot of spaces we’re trying to recruit and see what local businesses want to expand or launch a new concept,” Daughtry said. “We’d love to have whoever, but can we try to build up our local businesses to take those spots is what we’re trying to do.”
Daughtry works in her office at Winterville Town Hall. In addition to helping small businesses get their footing and continue succeeding, Daughtry is also well versed in planning concepts like zoning. (Photo by Pat Gruner)
New coffeehouse part Craft Brew
By Kim Grizzard
of downtown Winterville reawakening
Photos by Bobby Burns
It’s not just a er work that the regulars begin ling into Coopers Cup. Some stop by mid-a ernoon or even rst thing in the morning to order a drink and have a seat at the bar at this popular downtown hangout that gives a new de nition to cra brew.
Coopers Cup welcomes visitors to its storefront at 2588 Railroad Street in the heart of Winterville. The shop offers gourmet coffees, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, specialty drinks and more in addition to gifts and merchandise from local crafters and artisans.
A 2-minute walk from both Local Oak and Nauti Dog, this “brewtique” invites customers to both sip and shop, enjoying co ee and cra s under one roof. is unique blend is part of a reawakening of downtown Winterville, which in recent years has seen restaurants, bars and other businesses emerge from vacant store fronts.
Coopers Cup is a family operation which opened in June on Railroad Street across from Fire Station. e business brings together Toni Biscardi’s love of cra ing with more than three decades of experience in the food industry from her husband, Lee.
“It just came out of nowhere,” Toni said in an interview. “Lee’s been retired for almost a year now, and I un-retired him. He likes co ee … I’m a cra er.”
e New York natives moved to Winterville a decade ago when Lee took a job as plant manager for Ann’s House of Nuts. Always something of an entrepreneur, Lee also operated handyman and landscaping businesses until he su ered a stroke about three and a half years ago. Although health concerns forced him to slow down, stopping was not an option.
“I keep myself busy,” he said. “I can’t sit still.”
Located a few blocks away from Cooper Street, the shop got its name from the couple’s 15-year-old Chihuahua, a rather particular pup who prefers to have his drinking water served in the tiny cup used to ll a steam iron.
“He drinks water out of that cup and only that cup,” Toni said, laughing. “If we lose that cup, we’re in trouble.”
Lee jokes that although Cooper won’t come near the shop, he, along with dogs belonging to daughter, Lia, and son, Joe, serve on the “board of trustees” for the
pet-friendly business. It is a story that he tells o en to new customers, especially those who ask to speak to Mr. Cooper when they arrive.
Lee’s preferred title is “Master of Conversation,” although he acts as daily operations manager for the shop. Toni, who kept her day job, also has poured herself into the new venture, working as business manager. She comes in, along with Lia, Joe and their spouses, to help serve a er work.
“We like to drink co ee in the a ernoon because we’re Italian,” Lia explained. “ at’s our gathering place. I don’t think we know of a single place that’s open later, like a er dinner.”
Unlike many local co ee shops that close their doors by mid-a ernoon, Coopers Cup remains open as late as 7 or 8 p.m., depending on the season. at’s good news for customers like Kelly Hoopingarner, who stops in between classes she teaches at L’Academie De Danse, located just down the block.
“If my daughter has time between her dance classes, I’ll send her down here,” Hoopingarner said. “We love having a new place to grab a bite to eat and our daily ca eine boost. It’s so convenient to support the local artists and owners. It’s been a great new addition.”
Dance moms like Hoopingarner have been stopping in for drinks since the Biscardis transformed the space into an industrial-chic design with high ceilings, exposed brick and concrete oors.
While the Biscardis originally considered opening a co ee shop in Ayden, they were charmed by the century old brick in this former appliance store located along the railroad track, just o Winterville’s Main Street.
At Coopers Cup, a menu that includes co ee, lattes, espresso,
cappuccino, tea, smoothies and plant-based energy drinks is only half the story. Along the walls are hundreds of hand-craed items available for sale from local artisans.
“Since my mom does cra ing and I used to go to a lot of cra fairs as well, we had a lot of connections,” Lia said.
Customers can browse through baby clothes, candles, jewelry and home décor while waiting for a barista to complete their orders or while sitting down for sandwiches or other packaged items from a local baker. Coopers Cup has a variety of gi items, from plants to picture frames and candles to cutting boards.
e “brewtique,” which started with 30 vendors, has grown to 57, with a waiting list of cra ers hoping to add their wares. e shop donates a space for the local nonpro t NC Stop Human Tra cking to showcase international items that are created without worker exploitation or child labor.
“We want to be very community-based, focused,” Toni said. “ at’s our goal. We want to be part of the community.”
In addition to hosting events like a recent pet adoption and “Co ee with a Cop,” the co ee shop maintains a “giving board” that allows customers to prepay for a beverage for someone in need. Donors, who make a $5 contribution, write a note of encouragement on a co ee sleeve, which is posted on a board near the back of the shop so that someone in need can obtain it discreetly.
“It’s kind of pay it forward,” Toni explained. “If (a person) can’t a ord it, they can just grab a sleeve (from the board), bring it up to the register and redeem it for a co ee.”
So far, donors to the board have far outnumbered recipients, but the Biscardis expect more people to take them up on the
Comfortable couches and tables welcome guests to gather, sip coffee and drinks and check out local products inside the shop on Railroad Street.
o er as cooler weather sets in and word of the giving board spreads.
News of Coopers Cup’s opening has traveled quickly thanks, in part, to thousands of early voters who saw the sign as they lined up across the street to cast their ballots.
“It’s starting to get out there that people love our place, the shopping, the co ee, the service,” Lee said, adding that many customers have become regulars over the last few months. “It’s a great vibe.”
Toni said customers love to come in, sit and talk with friends.
“As you can see we have no TVs on the wall,” she said. “If you want TV, go to the bar.”
Coopers Cup is located at 2588 Railroad St., Winterville. It is open Tuesdays-Sundays. Hours change seasonally. Visit bit.ly/cooperscup or facebook.com/cooperscupnc.
Brianna Barnes makes The Boneyard, an ECU-themed specialty drink with purple syrup. The shop also offers the French Bulldog in honor of PCC.
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A Slice of the Good Life
By Donna Davis
Archival Photos
Back in 1985, Ronald Reagan was president, “Back to the Future” was tops at the box o ce and “We are the World” was a No. 1 hit for two weeks, raising millions for humanitarian aid in Africa.
Big hair and acid-washed jeans were still in style. But during the summer in the South, watermelon was king.
at was the year that a group of civic-minded boosters in Winterville got the idea to start a festival, an event that in August will mark its 40th anniversary year — an event that in the beginning came very close to going in a completely di erent direction.
“It was the Winterville Jaycees that started the festival in 1985,” said Tim Avery, the festival’s rst chairperson who held the leadership role for 30-plus years. “Originally the festival was going to be called ‘ e Pig Happening’ Festival, based on
barbecue. And then we started researching in North Carolina and at that time there was not a watermelon festival. So we decided we would select that. Murfreesboro and Winterville were both starting a watermelon festival the same year. So we tried to start ours one day earlier so we could say we had the rst one.”
Festival a cionados may point to the NC Watermelon Festival that was held in Raleigh, beginning in 1957. Ed Weeks from Tarboro won the prize for the largest watermelon there in 1970 and set several world records a er founding Weeks Seed Company in 1964.
e NC Watermelon Festival moved to Murfreesboro in 1985, the same year the Winterville Watermelon Festival started, but as Avery indicated, Winterville believes they got a day or two head-start on that other festival.
“We started it because at that time we were one of the few local towns that didn’t have a festival,” Avery said. “And our
A youngster enjoys a slice of the good life at the Winterville Watermelon Festival in 2012. The festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary in August.
Jaycee chapter was all about giving back to the community and promoting their community. And we said, ‘Hey, we don’t have one. Ayden has one. Gri on has one. Greenville has a lot of events. So why don’t we start one, and maybe it will be a fundraiser for us.’”
With an initial budget of $500 that was loaned to the group by one of the Jaycees members, the committee booked a band called e Showmen they had met in Wintergreen, Virginia. ey raised the rest of the funds through selling advertisements in a program book that they put together.
“ e festival our rst year was at A.G. Cox school. We moved the next year across the street from A.G. Cox because A.G. Cox expanded their classrooms,” Avery said. “And then a year a er that we moved the festival to downtown. When we moved the festival to downtown, that’s when the festival really took o . We had amusement rides, we were able to get bigger sponsorships, we were able to have bigger bands.”
e Jaycees eventually dissolved, but the festival went on with a grassroots committee leading it and over time gaining support from all segments of the community. e most important thing, organizers agree, was to put on a good weekend for the families in the community as well as to promote the town. But Avery remembers another goal from the early years: ey wanted to land the popular beach band, e Chairmen of the Board.
“ at was our ultimate goal,” Avery remembers, “but we never could raise enough money until years later. It continued to grow. e town built us a stage, put a roof on the stage. It got to the point it was bigger than what we could do and we decided to have our rst national artist, and that was Marshall Tucker Band. We had it out at the Recreation Park. A er that we had Charlie Daniels, we had Lonestar.”
e concerts got to be so big that they went to A.G. Cox school and asked if they could have the concerts at their athletic eld. It was a big fundraiser for the school because they received all the funds from food sales. A few years later the committee decided they could hold it at the Recreation Park and just control the number of tickets sold.
“ e thing that we liked so much is that it gave us the opportunity to host a very reasonable or low cost weekend for the members of our community to come and enjoy themselves,” Avery said. “It also gave us the opportunity to promote our town all across the eastern U.S. We were actually recognized for two years as one of the top southeastern United States festivals to attend by the Southeastern Tourism Association, which was a huge honor for us. And to this day, we’ve had people come to see certain artists who have told us, ‘I come from Florida … we heard about the festival.’ Or, ‘I come from Maryland and we’ve come down.’”
e festival has hosted a who’s who of performers over 40 years; too many to name. Charlie Daniels is the one that comes to mind rst for a lot of people.
“Charlie Daniels was the festival that I really felt took it to another level,” Avery said. “We’re talking about a gentleman that was from North Carolina, that everyone loved … the concert was free at that time. It was just packed and everyone just had a good time. at is the rst time I really felt like, ‘Wow, this has done more than we ever hoped.’”
Another performer that the organizers particularly remember is Miranda Lambert.
“I think it was in 2005 when we had Miranda Lambert,” Alton Wadford, chairperson from 2015 to 2022, said. “She was not known by anybody. In fact she was our ursday night opening act. Her dad was her manager. She took pictures with everybody. She was just getting started back then. She was probably around 19, maybe 20. When the concert was over, we took a folding table and turned it upside down and hooked it behind a golf cart, and we were pulling her and some of the other band members around the eld, like sur ng on the tables, sort of. We’ve been known for having people before they get famous. We’ve had some people like Miranda Lambert, or Jason Aldean was another who came to us on their way up and then got famous a erwards, and we would always tell people that they were famous because they came to the Winterville Watermelon Festival.”
Apparently the Winterville Watermelon Festival also had an
Volunteer Heather Jackson with pal Thomas Day sports her festival spirit on her head in 2014.
Contestants chomp down during the festival’s eating contest in 2012.
impact on Jason Aldean when he played it in 2006. Avery said, “I was told that they asked Jason Aldean when he realized he made it big. And my understanding was his comment was, ‘I played a small watermelon festival and the place was packed and I knew then that I was going to make it big.’”
Scotty McCreery played the festival in 2018 and invited his wife, Gabi, on stage to dance with him during his song, “ is is It.”
All the festival chairpersons agree that none of it would be possible without the volunteers and sponsors.
e public doesn’t really understand the costs that go into putting on a festival like this, the organizers agree. For instance, to rent bathrooms for the festival, it costs $6,000, current chairperson Heather Jackson said. Scotty McCreery’s fee was $65,000. Montgomery Gentry was $85,000. e festival paid e Temptations $17,000 in 2011, when Hurricane Irene shut down the festival and no one ever heard them play.
would say, ‘Hey, come by my house ... I’ve got something for you’, ... they would donate money to us. at was special and that made me feel like they appreciated it just as much as we did. I remember in my later years that we had a concert and my understanding was that Chick- l-A sold out of chicken. We wanted our businesses to bene t also by us having the event here. And I think a lot of them did.”
“I served as a volunteer since the early 2000s,” Wadford said. “I have done everything from setting up tents, hanging signs, cleaning our band dressing room trailer, picking up trash, running errands for bands, helping to set up stage and sound equipment, planning the parade, planning budgets, fundraising, nding sponsors and building relationships, and overseeing all aspects of the festival.”
The 40th Festival is set for Aug. 21-24, Festival is set for Aug. 21-24, 2025. Visit watermelonfest.com for more information about for volunteering and sponsorship and opportunities.
The 40th Winterville Watermelon
“I want to thank all the sponsors,” Jackson said. “I don’t care if you gave me $250 or if you gave us $10,000. Now, nobody’s ever given us $10,000 … it’s a coveted spot that we actually have for the festival. You know, we do a lot of research as far as our sponsorship amounts. We have looked at all the other festivals in the area to kind of compare what their sponsorship application looks like. is is not just stu that we made up.”
“Our local businesses, I can’t remember anyone not helping us when we asked,” Avery said. “From Pitt Community to the local person who would just give us $100 to even citizens who
But nding people who want the commitment of volunteering is always a struggle, Jackson said. She wants to make sure people know that volunteers (or board members) are not required to live in the Winterville community.
“My goal was always to o er a family-friendly event that people of all ages could attend, feel safe and have a lot of fun while being something that our town could be proud of, also o ering a weekend of entertainment that wasn’t so expensive so that everybody could take part in it,” Wadford said. “I would always gauge our success by the numbers of people who would come and use suggestions from others to help make changes in future years. Safety was a big thing because back then there were questions about people going to the fairs and things like that and not being safe. We were lucky enough to be able to
The festival runs on volunteers. Folks working on the 40th anniversary festival include, front from left, Alton Wadford, Katie Greenberg, Cynthia Whitley, Vivi Ham, Heather Jackson, Stephanie Ham and Beth Fitch, and back from left, Jeff Greenberg, Jessica Thomas, Mike Watson and Linda Smith. (Photo by Bobby Burns)
partner with the Town of Winterville and their rst responders, police and re. ey were a big part of what we were doing here.”
“I’m from Winterville my whole life and I’ve been going to the festival since it was in downtown Winterville on the railroad tracks,” Jackson said. “So I have some very good memories of that. Obviously since I’ve been volunteering, it’s kind of like a whole di erent memory for me. It’s one thing when you go to a festival, attending it, which has always been fun for me in my life, but it’s a little di erent when you’re involved in it because it just kind of matters a little more. And obviously I love my community, I love my hometown, so it just feels good to volunteer with an organization that I hear people talking about or see them talking about on social media. How they love the festival, how they love coming. And we see comments about how they can’t wait to bring their kids. at just makes
you feel good to know that you’re a part of that.”
e festival has had an impact on the Town of Winterville in more than one way. Avery was chairman when the committee decided on the festival slogan, “ e Slice of the Good Life.” e town manager at that time, Bill Whisnant, came to the committee and asked if the town could also adopt the slogan, and the rest is a slice of history.
“I’m so happy that Heather and the group that is working now still continues the tradition,” Avery said. “I hope that the younger generation will also continue and give back to the community like the group is now and like we did for so many years.”
But Tim Avery didn’t end his comments there. He made a public confession that might make committee members blush and the whole town gasp. He said, “I’ll tell you this … I’m not a big fan of watermelon!”
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Tim and Robin Avery have been involved with the Watermelon Festival since the first one in 1985. Tim was the first chairman and was in leadership roles for more than 30 years.
A group of Watermelon Festival volunteers crowds around recording artist Charlie Daniels. Organizers say the performance by the Charlie Daniels Band in the early years of the festival’s history helped raise its profile.
Some of the performers who have played the Winterville Watermelon Festival since 1985
Tell Me Lies
Spare Change
Mikele Buck Band
Trainwreck
Still Shakers
Cooper Greer
Smithfield
Justin West Band
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Motown Madness
Straightwire Band
Chairmen of the Board
Legacy Motown Revue
North Tower Band of Oz Embers
Breeze Band
O’Kaysions
Time Machine Showmen
Bryan Mayer
Dark Water Redemption
Bruce in the USA (Springsteen tribute)
The Pamlico Sound Machine
Carolina Beach Club
Don’t Stop Believing (Journey Tribute)
Ashley LaRue
Earth Wind Fire (tribute)
Who’s Bad
Sister Hazel
Lauren Alaina
Brothers Osborne
The Tams
Marshall Tucker Band
Kylie Morgan
Crawford & Power
38 Special
Parmalee
Matt Stell
Scotty McCreery
Charlie Daniels
Lonestar
Chase Bryant
Jameson Rogers
Jason Aldean
Chase Rice
Jon Pardi
Jason Michael Carroll
Montgomery Gentry
Rodney Atkins
The Temptations
Jake Owen
Randy Houser
Craig Morgan
Bucky Covington
Jack Ingram
Travis Tritt
Trick Pony
Jackie Lee
Tyler Farr
James Wesley
Katie Armiger
Jane Deere Girls
Billy Currington
Andy Giggs
Emerson Drive
Miranda Lambert
Clarence Carter
Tracy Byrd
Four Tops
Ricochet
Dakota Blue
Chase Rice
Kasey Tyndall
Locash
Grand Funk Railroad
Maggie Baugh
Festival volunteer Alton Wadford, right, gets a photo with singer Scotty McCreery at the festival in 2018. McCreery is among a parade of stars who have performed at the festival.
Festival organizers hang out backstage with Miranda Lambert in 2005, when Lambert was a rising star.
