See what Patient First is doing in the community.
On August 11, the community in and around Carytown gathered for the 42nd Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival- a sweet slice of Richmond tradition. Back in the day, merchants in Carytown would set out slices of watermelon in the middle of the dog days of summer to help promote their business and draw customers in. This idea grew in popularity and continued to grow until eventually, the merchants decided their idea would be better served as a 1-day festival. Since then, every August, Carytown shuts down for one day to hold an annual festival dedicated to summer's favorite fruit. At the center of the festival are still the bowls of watermelon, which are sold for $2, with proceeds benefitting local Shriners.
In addition to the bowls of watermelon, the theme of watermelon - red and green- can be seen throughout the event between the many vendors, food trucks, kids' activities, down to the festive attire worn by children and adults alike. An additional 3,000 watermelons are provided by Publix, the presenting sponsor of the event. There is also live music that spans across the six blocks for the festival, including the street closest to the Carytown Patient First center.
Patient First, who's been a supporter of the festival for many years, participated again this year; providing free blood pressure screenings and passing out additional giveaway items and informational material. As a staple in the Richmond community, we heard numerous stories of those who have visited at least one of our centers. A favorite event amongst our staff, we look forward to returning next year!