The 23rd annual Winterville Watermelon Festival will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 in downtown Winterville.

The highlight of the festival will be the Saturday night Concert with the Stars with Rockingham native and American Idol star Bucky Covington and fellow country musician Jack Ingram.

Web photo (ENLARGE)

Bucky Covington will perform at the 23rd annual Winterville Watermelon Festival for the Night with the Stars Concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 23.

Covington was the eighth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol.

He had sung with local North Carolina bands for 10 years before the show and he's since taken his American Idol fame and turned it into a career.

His first self-titled album was released in April 2007.

Ingram began writing songs and playing guitar while studying psychology at SMU in Dallas.

Last summer, Ingram's single "Wherever You Are" climbed the charts to No. 1 on Billboard's country singles chart. That accomplishment was quickly followed up with the hilarious single, "Love You."

He sang the National Anthem to 12 million viewers at Game 1 of the 2006 NBA finals.

Tickets for the Aug. 23 concert are $10.

Schedule

7 p.m. Aug. 16: Winterville Watermelon Festival Pageant at South Central High School. Admission is $7.

Aug. 21

6 p.m.: Food vendors and amusement rides open. Wrist band night. $15 pay one price.

6:30 p.m.: Dave Matthews Tribute Band, in the park

8:30 p.m.: Journey Tribute band, in the park

Aug. 22

6-11 p.m.: Amusement rides and food vendors

6:30 p.m.: General Johnson and The Chairmen of the Board, concert in the park

Aug. 23

8 a.m. Craft show, flea market, vendors

10 a.m. Festival Parade

11 a.m. Amusement rides open

11 a.m.: Watermelon Eating Contest, Main stage; Winterville Historical Society open house, Corner of Main St. & Sylvania St.; Keith King Bike Stunt show

noon: Concert in the Park with Sara Dew, free

1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: Keith King Bike Stunt show

1:30 p.m.: Concert in the Park with Worship103, free

2:30 p.m.: Concert in the Park with 2 Brothers in Christ, free

3:30 p.m.: Karate demonstration by Byung Lee's Tae Kwon Do, Free Admission

5:30 p.m.: Concert in the Park with TailGate, free

7 p.m.: Night with the Stars concert with Bucky Covington and Jack Ingram, ticketed

Visit www.watermelonfest.com