Get ready for a slice of happiness at the California Watermelon Festival the weekend of July 29-30 in Lake View Terrace at the Hansen Dam Soccer Complex in the San Fernando Valley. All day fun includes free watermelon, delicious foods, carnival rides and attractions, games, contests, live entertainment, a Kids Zone, and the newest attraction – watermelon skiing! Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The celebration kicks off a 55-year tradition that pays tribute to the early days when watermelons were the prized crop of the eastern San Fernando Valley foothills.

 Melon mania expands the limits of the seedy super-sized fruit. For the first time ever, patrons can step into carved-out watermelon halves and “melon ski” across a greased canvas to showcase their skills as the crowd cheers them on. Puckering up for the seed-spitting contest at the “Spitway” or going for the gold in the watermelon relay are also among the options. Free watermelon is in plentiful supply for all attendees.

 The festivities also include a marketplace with an array of eclectic arts & crafts exhibitors and vendor booths, carving displays and cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and strolling performers, watermelon wear clothing, and more. In addition to the food court, carnival rides and midway games, kids can enjoy pony rides, a children’s theater, and a variety of engaging activities.

 “We work year round to put together a unique adventure that brings people together,” says Festival director Paul Butler. “Best of all, proceeds from the celebration benefit charitable projects in the local community.”

A highlight of the festival will be the attempts by world record holder Ron Sarchian to best five world records. Sarchian, holder of five records in the Guinness Book of World Records, will attempt to break five additional world records in one weekend. He is going to attempt the following:

1. Most watermelons smashed by a punch in one minute. Current world record is 70.

2. Most watermelons split by a karate chop in one minute. Current world record is 40.

3. Most watermelons smashed by a roundhouse kick in one minute. Current world record is 20.

4. Most watermelons crushed with the thighs in one minute. Current world record is eight.

5. Fastest time to crush three watermelons with the thighs. Current world record is 14 seconds.

Sarchian’s schedule of attempts will be posted on watermelonfesti.org prior to festival opening. Results will be posted on Twitter or Facebook as they happen.

Sarchian’s prior records were incredible feats of stamina. He began punching his way into the record books in 2004 with a “Punchbag Marathon” lasting 36 hours and three minutes, throwing over 100,000 punches. The next record to fall was “Most Consecutive Full-Contact Punches in One Hour” at 15,089 consecutive punches. In 2006 he threw 5,545 front kicks to set the record in “Most Full-Contact Kicks in One Hour” followed in 2007 by “Most Roundhouse Kicks in One Minute” at 130 (that’s more than two kicks per second!).

Why watermelons now? Sarchian said, “The first five Guinness World Records were extremely hard to break and during the next five attempts, I want to have fun! These records are all a minute or less.”

Sarchian has raised money for various charities during each of his world records. This attempt will include benefitting the Make A Wish Foundation.