Summer heats up in Middleboro with contests, carnivals and camaraderie
Jul 4, 2024
Fox Burrill gobbles down a piece of watermelon during Middleboro’s annual watermelon contest. Photos by Anna Milton, video by Marcy Fregault.
Joe Fowler inches towards the top of the pole.
Jake Auccoin shows sheer determination.
Wyatt Goyette wins the 13 through 17 year old division of the greasy pole contest.
Bella Tees races to the rind.
Four-year-old Jackson Simpson digs in.
Video content available.
MIDDLEBORO — Fourth of July in Middleboro is a day for national and local traditions.
Celebrations kicked off with the annual North Middleboro float parade and continued throughout the day.
Once the parade wrapped up, it was time for the yearly greasy pole and watermelon-eating contest, followed by a whole lotta fun at the carnival.
Middleboro has held these competitions every year since 1957, according to Parks Department Director Fran Cass.
Those who participated in this year’s contests showed sheer determination as they attempted to snag a flag at the top of a wooden pole covered in Crisco cooking grease, then gobble down a piece of watermelon as quickly as possible. Races were split up based on age.
Coming out on top during these town competitions is a family tradition for Joe Fowler, who won the greasy pole contest for kids 12 and under a second time in a row. Fowler also won this year’s watermelon contest.
The secret to slithering up the greasy pole is being “strong,” Fowler said. There’s a reason why his nickname is “the beast,” said Fowler’s father, who added “he’s a tough kid.”
Fowler’s grandmother, Sharon Fowler, became the first girl to win the watermelon-eating contest back in the late sixties, she said.
Another champion was ten-year-old Vivienne Fregault who won the race for her age group, as shown in the video content.
The turnout for this year’s competitions was “off the charts” according to Middleboro Summer Programs Director Dylan Smith.
Tradition and enjoying some good, old fashioned fun is also what brings many back to the Middleboro carnival year after year.
Chrystal Campbell, who’s come with her family every year to the carnival since 2015 said her favorite part of the experience is “seeing the kids having fun.”
Siblings Lily and Gabriel Poleet continue to come to the carnival even though they moved out of Middleboro five years ago.
Lily, who is now 19, said she has come every year since she was four. “I love this place, it’s part of my hometown, I have to come every year,” she said.
