The Lambda Chi house on Poplar Street looks like it has been infested with watermelons.

Paper plates shaped like watermelons litter the yard. With the help of plastic forks, construction paper watermelons are taped to the outside of the building, and pink streamers are wrapped around the tree trunks in front of the house.

Lambda Chi is sponsoring a Watermelon Festival for all SIUC sororities incorporating a food drive into competitions held throughout the week.

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We decided that since the festival was so close to the time we usually do the food drive, we would just combine the two activities, Ross Collins, social chair of Lambda Chi, said.

We didn’t know what to expect, Collins said. This is the first time we have done anything like this, and if the competitions are anything like the spirit that has been shown this week oh my. I’m really surprised by this much participation.

The Delta Zetas made the watermelons in our yard, the Tri Sigs hung the Pepsi banner over our porch and the Sigma Kappas decorated our house with finger paints, he said.

Collins said their fraternity will judge the sororities on decorations and spirit, awarding points to the winners.

Points will also be awarded for the Watermelon Bust Queen, in which each sorority chooses a girl to represent them who must do something creative with a watermelon to win, he said.

The festival’s activities culminate on Saturday, where competitions include the watermelon toss, seed spitting contest, watermelon eating and smashing watermelons. The events will take place at the Sam Rinella fields from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Collins said. Everyone is invited to come out and watch.

A point system will be used for community service participation, something that is important in the Greek organizations, he said.

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Christine Bobrowicz, a sophomore in speech communication from Crystal Lake, said she likes the competition between sororities because her sorority likes to compete to win.

We are going out tonight to buy canned food for the drive, she said. I think we’re going to buy about 250 cans, and we’ll also go around and get them from the community.

They’re (Lambda Chi) fairly new in the Greek system, Sandra Siavelis, a freshman in business management and accounting from Mt. Prospect, said. Our sorority is participating so we can get to know them better, and they can get to know us.