Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair

In the early 1900s, Churchill County resident O.J. Vannoy’s pioneering efforts led to the creation of Hearts of Gold Cantaloupe, a major national export throughout the 1920s and 30s. After a market crash in the late 1930s, these beloved melons were replaced. With a resurgence of Fallon’s local food market in the 1980s, locals saw the opportunity to bring back the melon and create a festival to fill the gap left by the Nevada State Fair and Country Fair.

Hosted by the Fallon Festival Association and now in its 40th year, the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair is one of Nevada’s longest-running food and drink festivals and celebrates the famously juicy Hearts of Gold melon. With activities such as a Colossal Cantaloupe Growing Contest and the Cantaloupe Festival Queen and King Pageant, this premier event serves to educate all ages about the rich history of agriculture in Nevada.