Contestant Application Fees - $50
Queen | Age 18 - 22, if 19 by October 1, 2025
Jubilee | High School - Age 18, if not 19 by October 1, 2025
Princess | Middle School
Crimson Sweet | Age 9 - 5th Grade
Sweet Gem | Age 7- 8
Queen | Age 18 - 22, if 19 by October 1, 2025
Jubilee | High School - Age 18, if not 19 by October 1, 2025
Princess | Middle School
Crimson Sweet | Age 9 - 5th Grade
Sweet Gem | Age 7- 8
Qualifications
The DeSoto Watermelon Pageants are open to all DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Highlands, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota County residents and college students. Applications are available here on our website. Applications and headshots are due by March 1, 2026. No applications will be accepted after March 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS. Application fees can be paid online with the application or in the form of cash or check at the Mandatory Informational Meeting.
The MANDATORY Informational Meeting is on March 3, 2026 at DeSoto Middle School at 5:00 PM
All checks should be made payable to the DeSoto Watermelon Association. Contestants who do not attend the Mandatory Informational Meeting and do not submit their application fee will not be allowed to compete. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Headshots
All contestants will need to submit a headshot with their application. The photos may not have any facial piercings, face altering filters or heavy editing. Photos may not be AI generated. The pose MUST be from the chest up of your contestant. All contestants will need to submit their headshot with their digital application or email to [email protected]. Email Subject should be as follows:
HEADSHOT: Contestant Name.
Headshots are due no later than March 1st, 2026. These will be used for photogenic judging, the program book and the Pick of the Patch contest.
Practices
For all pageants practices are mandatory. Only contestants may attend practices. Contestants who miss a practice without prior
approval will not be allowed to compete and their application fee will not be returned. Practices will be in in the DeSoto Middle School cafeteria. Sweet Gem and Crimson Sweet practice is at 5:00pm. Practice for Princess, Jubilee, will be at 6:00 pm . Queen Practices will be on Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
Admissions to Pageants
Admissions to the pageants on April 5th and 6th are $5 per person. Children under 2 are free. Pageant programs will be available for purchase for $5 a piece. The pageants will be held in the DeSoto Middle School Cafeteria.
Winner Responsibility
All winners should be prepared to participate in watermelon events appearances, and activities that have been scheduled by the director.
The DeSoto Watermelon Pageants are open to all DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Highlands, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota County residents and college students. Applications are available here on our website. Applications and headshots are due by March 1, 2026. No applications will be accepted after March 1st. NO EXCEPTIONS. Application fees can be paid online with the application or in the form of cash or check at the Mandatory Informational Meeting.
The MANDATORY Informational Meeting is on March 3, 2026 at DeSoto Middle School at 5:00 PM
All checks should be made payable to the DeSoto Watermelon Association. Contestants who do not attend the Mandatory Informational Meeting and do not submit their application fee will not be allowed to compete. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Headshots
All contestants will need to submit a headshot with their application. The photos may not have any facial piercings, face altering filters or heavy editing. Photos may not be AI generated. The pose MUST be from the chest up of your contestant. All contestants will need to submit their headshot with their digital application or email to [email protected]. Email Subject should be as follows:
HEADSHOT: Contestant Name.
Headshots are due no later than March 1st, 2026. These will be used for photogenic judging, the program book and the Pick of the Patch contest.
Practices
For all pageants practices are mandatory. Only contestants may attend practices. Contestants who miss a practice without prior
approval will not be allowed to compete and their application fee will not be returned. Practices will be in in the DeSoto Middle School cafeteria. Sweet Gem and Crimson Sweet practice is at 5:00pm. Practice for Princess, Jubilee, will be at 6:00 pm . Queen Practices will be on Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
Admissions to Pageants
Admissions to the pageants on April 5th and 6th are $5 per person. Children under 2 are free. Pageant programs will be available for purchase for $5 a piece. The pageants will be held in the DeSoto Middle School Cafeteria.
Winner Responsibility
All winners should be prepared to participate in watermelon events appearances, and activities that have been scheduled by the director.
Important Dates
The informational meeting will begin at 6:00 pm for Sweet Gem, Crimson Sweet, Princess, Jubilee and Queen at the DeSoto Middle School Cafeteria.
Sweet Gem, Crimson Sweet, Princess, Jubilee, and Queen Contestants are required to attend all practices. The informational meeting is mandatory for everyone. Practices are closed and only contestants may attend practices. Contestants who miss a practice without prior approval will not be allowed to compete and their application fee will not be returned.
Saturday March 1, 2025 - All Applications & headshots are due digitally.
Tuesday March 4, 2025 - Informational meeting and application fees due.
Tuesday March 11, 2025 - Practice. Program book ads and ad money are due.
Wednesday March, 12, 2025 - Queen Practice
Tuesday March 18, 2025 - Practice. Written speech and written sponsor thanks due.
Wednesday March 19, 2025 Queen Practice
Tuesday March 25, 2025 - Practice. All attire due for approval. Speech memorized.
Wednesday March 26, 2025 - Queen Practice
Thursday March 27, 2025 - Practice.
Tuesday April 1, 2025 - Practice. Evening gown dress rehearsal.
Wednesday April 2, 2025 - Queen Practice
Friday April 4, 2025 - Final practice. Optional Sugar Babe practice.
Saturday April 5, 2025 - Sweet Gem Pageant
Saturday April 5, 2025 - Crimson Sweet Pageant
Sunday April 6, 2025 - Princess Pageant
Sunday April 6, 2025 - Jubilee and Queen Pageant
Saturday April 12, 2025 - Sugar Babe Pageants
The informational meeting will begin at 6:00 pm for Sweet Gem, Crimson Sweet, Princess, Jubilee and Queen at the DeSoto Middle School Cafeteria.
Sweet Gem, Crimson Sweet, Princess, Jubilee, and Queen Contestants are required to attend all practices. The informational meeting is mandatory for everyone. Practices are closed and only contestants may attend practices. Contestants who miss a practice without prior approval will not be allowed to compete and their application fee will not be returned.
Saturday March 1, 2025 - All Applications & headshots are due digitally.
Tuesday March 4, 2025 - Informational meeting and application fees due.
Tuesday March 11, 2025 - Practice. Program book ads and ad money are due.
Wednesday March, 12, 2025 - Queen Practice
Tuesday March 18, 2025 - Practice. Written speech and written sponsor thanks due.
Wednesday March 19, 2025 Queen Practice
Tuesday March 25, 2025 - Practice. All attire due for approval. Speech memorized.
Wednesday March 26, 2025 - Queen Practice
Thursday March 27, 2025 - Practice.
Tuesday April 1, 2025 - Practice. Evening gown dress rehearsal.
Wednesday April 2, 2025 - Queen Practice
Friday April 4, 2025 - Final practice. Optional Sugar Babe practice.
Saturday April 5, 2025 - Sweet Gem Pageant
Saturday April 5, 2025 - Crimson Sweet Pageant
Sunday April 6, 2025 - Princess Pageant
Sunday April 6, 2025 - Jubilee and Queen Pageant
Saturday April 12, 2025 - Sugar Babe Pageants
