As this is written, the new arch that will welcome visitors to the 24th Annual North Carolina Watermelon Festival in historic Murfreesboro already has been erected and preparations for what has become one of eastern North Carolina’s premier events are under way.

Actually, of course, preparations have been ongoing for months. If you live in Murfreesboro and are not in some way involved in making the festival all that it has become, you are the exception rather than the rule.

Once a four-hour affair, the festival now spans four days and draws some 40,000 visitors to the town of 2,500 residents.

Admission and parking are both free and there is plenty of the latter within easy walking distance of the many different individual elements that make up the festival.

The festival will open tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29, and conclude Saturday, Aug. 1. Its theme this year is “Where Hearts Meet.” That theme grew out of a realization by organizers that, over the years, many romances have grown out of couples meeting at the festival.

The event is known for its family atmosphere and it often serves as a reunion for family and friends from other communities near and far.

Bands are scheduled to perform each night of the festival, various organizations will sponsor meals during the four days, a crafts/antiques fair will get under way on Friday, there will be a midway area with at least two new rides this year, the state’s largest agricultural parade is set for Saturday, as is the crowning of the event’s royalty, and a fireworks display will conclude the festival at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

We’ll see you there!