What better place to celebrate this unique gift from the desert than here in Mohave County, true home of "Cucurbita palmata", better known as the Coyote Melon. Over-looked and under-appreciated by many, this golden sand trinket has long been appreciated by artists and artisans of the Southwest for its potential as an art material. Whether with paint, knife, or wood-burner, Coyote melon gourds can be utterly transformed into the most amazing pieces of artwork imaginable. Join us as we  celebrate art in its more primitive forms, paying tribute to the incredible work of artists and crafts people from across the Southwest. 

And Coyote Melons are not just for looking at!!  Rise to the challenge as we look for the ultimate Coyote Melon Launcher!

In addition to  artisans' exhibits, gourd art workshops and live entertainment both days, the two day Festival will feature The Great Coyote Melon Art Contest, a Chili Cook-Off, a Horseshoe Pitching Tournament, a Nugget Shooting Derby, Coyote Melon Mountain, and the amazing  Coyote Melon Launching contest. New this year will be a Treasure Hunt & a Rattlesnake Buffet. All proceeds from  the Rattlesnake Buffet will be donated to "Feed the Children", a well known charitable organization. And of course on Sunday, we will have our Annual "Feed the Children" benefit auction. 

Featured events are listed below. This list will be updated as activities are added, and details become available. Click on the links below for more information.

  Schedule of Events

"The Great Coyote Melon Art Contest":

•           Enter your art work in this search for the  ultimate coyote melon!

•         Help us find the  biggest, the smallest  and the ugliest coyote melons around!

Chili cook-off:   (Sponsored by Rogers Market)  

Think you got some hot stuff? Find out how your chili measures up!  Ken & Judy Kemper, winners of last year's contest, will be defending their title as Chili Champs, and as added incentive, they have donated back their cash prize, making this year's award a whopping $200!!  They challenge all comers to try to take it away from them!

Horseshoe Pitching Tournament:  (Sponsored by the Crows Nest)

Play for cash prizes! 2006 Festival Champion Jerry Smith will be defending his title & the prize!! 

Coyote Melon Launching Contest:  (Sponsored by Joshua Tree Excavating)

Cash Prize: This year the contest will have separate divisions for manual and mechanical entries, as well as a new "youth" age bracket. Team Melephant will be taking on all comers, defending last year's record of 1100 feet with another great air cannon!  An added feature will be the "bull's eye" challenge. Contestants able to hit the target will get a free t-shirt!!

Nugget Shooting Derby:  (Sponsored by Meadview Hardware)

See how your metal detector skills match up! Go treasure hunting with the greatest in the sport! Prizes are silver coins, gold nuggets and a trophy.

Treasure Hunt:  (Sponsored by Land America Capital Title Agency)

Want to have some fun with your metal detector, but not quite up to the physical challenge of the Nugget Shooting Derby? We have just the event for you! Treasure Hunters will use their metal detectors to hunt for buried coins and items of interest, "Finders Keepers"!! 

Coyote Melon Mountain:  (Sponsored by View Video)

Guess how many gourds are in the mountain and win a $20 gift card to View Video! No entry fee!

Artisans' workshops & Demonstrations:

•  Coyote Melon Carving demonstration- Saturday, 11:30 AM
•  Coyote Melon Crafting  101- Saturday, 2:30 PM
•   Coyote Melon Wood Burning demonstration- Sunday, 11:30 AM
•   Advanced Coyote Melon Carving- Sunday, 2:30 PM

"Feed the Children" Benefits:                                                                                                               All proceeds from these events will be donated to "Feed the Children"

• Benefit Auction- noon Sunday
• Rattlesnake Buffet : Live dangerously! Ticket holders will be treated to a wide sample of dishes prepared with rattlesnake meat! Ticket quantities will be limited, so get yours early!! Tickets go on sale Sept. 1!
• Please note: Due to circumstances entirely beyond our control, the "Wild Wine Tasting" event has been cancelled.

Children's FREE continuous gourd craft workshop!

Featured Entertainment (listed alphabetically):

• Casey Adams, Country Western Vocals & Guitar
• Cherokee Storyteller
• Itchy Feet
• Lindsay Day & Joe, Bluegrass Vocals & Guitar
• Mount Tipton Drum Club
• Nick Covacevich & Jack Martin,  African Drum & Dance
• Quail Spirit, Native American Flute  
• The Bounders,  improv R&R band
• The End of the Line Dancers 

Food vendors

• Coyote Chili & Chow
• INZOS PLACE FOR WOOD FIRED PIZZA!

Artisans' booths: (listed alphabetically)                                                                                             Find that one-of-a-kind treasure in the booths of our talented exhibitors.

• Bob Freihaut Gourds
• Critters by Eva 
• Dreamland
• Goldynbears Trading Post
• Gourdettes
• Harlan Fry Jewelry
• Libby's Blankets
• Finer than Frog Fur Fine Art
• Jerry's Woodcarvings
• Jim Welch Solar Lamps
• Judy Sumter
• Just Bead It
• Mohave Enterprises
• Mojave Drums
• Nancy Larson Jewelry
• Long's Gourds
• Ruth Graham Fine Art
• Quail Spirit Music & Flutes
• Sky Island Photography
• Spirit Within Gourd Art
• Sunflower Art Studio Fine Art & Sculpture
• Tiles by Peggy
• Tole Tally Treasures
• Vic's Tease
• West's Gourds