This weekend, hundreds of watermelons will be eaten, rolled and raced – all in the name of fighting hunger.
The annual celebration known as the “Lambda Chi Alpha Watermelon Bust,” will occur on Saturday, Sept. 20, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lambda Chi Alpha House located at 619 Fourth St. The event is open to all NMU students and the general public.
According to fraternity vice-president Josh Tryan, the event will feature watermelon related contests such as a watermelon eating contest, a watermelon head roll, and a watermelon based triathalon. It will also feature live entertainment by local musicians.
“You get soaked and have a lot of fun,” Tryan said. “It’s a really great time and it all goes to a good cause.”
The event is free, but a donation of a canned food item is required for admission. The food collected is then donated to the local Salvation Army food pantry.
“We usually raise 10,000 pounds of food for the Salvation Army each year,” Tryan said. “I know they count on getting that food in before the holiday season.”
In addition to the Watermelon Bust, the fraternity also gathers food at an annual pig roast, a door-to-door food drive and collections at local grocery stores.
Lambda Chi President Jesse Cobian said that students should come out to the event.
“It’s a good way to meet people and get involved in the community and be a part of something,” he said.
