NORTH WEBSTER — The 64th annual Mermaid Festival in North Webster begins today and will run through Saturday.
Sponsored by the local Lions Club, this year’s theme is “Country Music Time.”
Wednesday night is the Cutie Parade, which is open to children younger than 14.
According to organizers, this is one of the country’s largest children’s parades. Parade watchers will get a preview of the contestants in Friday evening’s Cutie Pageant, as each contestant in the pageant is required to enter in the parade.
Parade participants will line up at 5:45 p.m. in the south parking lot of the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., and the parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday is a rain date for the event. Entries include walking, hand-drawn units, motorized are limited to golf carts and small garden tractors. No animals will be allowed and throwing candy will be prohibited.
On Thursday, a coin hunt in the sand will be held in the Lions Activity Building at 6 p.m. for children.
Friday’s events include the Cutie Pageant, in which a Cutie King and Cutie Queen will be crowned. The contest will be held at the Community Center gymnasium beginning at 7 p.m. There is an admission fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children not participating in the pageant.
Also on Friday is a garden tractor pull beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Washington Street. Tractors are limited to 4,000 rpm.
The festival concludes Saturday with the Queen of Lakes Pageant, a demolition derby and the large Mermaid Festival parade.
The parade kicks off at 4 p.m. from CVS and will travel north on Ind. 13 to the Community Center. Steve Ward, president of the Lion’s Club, is the parade chairman and the Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation, Inc. is the grand marshal. The parade includes several high school marking bands and many floats, including all of the queen candidates. Cash prizes are given up to $500 each.
The Queen of Lakes Pageant begins at 7 p.m. in the Community Center and features up to 25 female contestants between the ages of 16 and 23. Queen contestants have a full day of activities Saturday including interviews, modeling practice, gowns and swimsuit competitions and a final question to be answered by the finalists. The winner receives a $2,000 scholarship and reigns for one year.
The 11th annual demolition derby will begin at 7 p.m. on the north end of the festival grounds off Washington Street and involves mostly local drivers. Trophies and plaques will be awarded. There is an entry fee of $25 for each car.
Carnival rides will be ongoing throughout the week and the Milford Lions Club will provide food, including hot dogs, burgers, fish and ham sandwiches, corn dogs and french fries, as well as drinks. The food stand seats 80.
Local News
Mermaid Festival starts today with ‘Country Music’ theme
- Local News
-
-
Young scientists compete in Olympic-style event at Goshen College Saturday
Science took center stage in Goshen Saturday morning as 13 area Science Olympiad teams converged on a snow-dusted Goshen College campus to participate in the 2012 Science Olympiad Regional Tournament.
-
Fairfield students building press box
The building trades program at Fairfield High School is tackling a different project this winter, as students construct the school’s new press box at the football field.
-
Lawmakers: Bipartisan cooperation does exist
With a week now past since multitudes descended on Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, local legislators are once again finding their bearings and ready to jump back into the current legislative agend
-
Purchase of GHA office part of downfall?
Looking back, Wayne Kramer thinks he can identify the turning point in which everything went south for the beleaguered Goshen Housing Authority.
-
Family wins Keystone travel trailer
Keystone RV of Goshen, has awarded a Passport travel trailer to a winner in its Rediscover America RV Giveaway.
-
'Pancake Club' makes a difference
They make pancakes — lots of pancakes. The Exchange Club of Elkhart County is even known as “The Pancake Club.”
-
Local boy receives hearing aid help
Seven-year-old Alex Rial is quick with a hug. He has a sweet smile and an engaging personality. He loves going to church and isn’t afraid to talk about his faith. In short, Alex is a special kid.
-
Election 2012: Contests set for primary
There will be races for one County Commissioner seat and seven will seek three at-large posts on the County Council in the Republican primary election this year.
-
Daniels would consider post under GOP president
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who decided last year against a presidential run, says he would consider serving in the Cabinet of a new Republican president but believes it’s “very improbable” the eventual nominee would tap him as a running mate.
-
Finding the perfect filler for your garden
Rose mallow is a great garden filler. It’s origins are the genus malvaceae (mallow family) and if you are like I am, the mallow family gets rather confusing.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
