Rita Janak is a relative newcomer to what's likely one of the biggest watermelon festivals around.
"We've been playing five or six years here every year, and we love it," she said. "It keeps getting better every year."
Luling's Watermelon Thump began in the '50s as a way to celebrate the crop of local farmers.
Luling native Ruperto Gonzales has never missed a year.
"The first watermelon thump we had, I was six years old, I believe," he said. "So it's been a family tradition, I guess you would say."
In fact, it's a tradition that's continued well into his marriage.
"We've been married 48 years, and we haven't missed a single year of coming," said Gloria Gonzales, Ruperto's wife.
And it's not just a tradition he's kept with Gloria either.
"When I was in the Navy, I would make it a point to have a week's vacation, and I would come back," he said. "I have a friend of mine, he joined the Air Force and he lives in Florida. So we meet here every year for the Thump, and we're like lifelong friends."
It's not all about the watermelons. The kids, of course, love all the rides, and the adults point to good food and shopping.
"I usually stay a couple of hours, look at the vendors, buy a few things," said attendee Terry Garcia.
The watermelons, though, are the stars of the show.
"The watermelons are wonderful," Janak said. "We take home a dozen or so in our hobo bus every year."
All that fruit fest fun keeps thousands coming back every year.