Cordele Georgia is known as the Watermelon Capital of the World. During the summer, Cordele celebrates the watermelon harvest with the annual Watermelon Days Festival. Festival activities include the annual Watermelon Parade, watermelon eating and spitting contest and a gospel singing.

Watermelon Capital Speedway, a 3/8 mile medium banked asphalt track, is a site of festival races.

Waternmelons are one of the USA's largest cash crops. Cordele's State Farmer's Market is a major watermelon shipping point.

Cordele is also home to Georgia Veterans State Park, the Sam Shortline train ride and Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club.