NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Heart of the Harvest Fall Festival is off to a great start this afternoon, Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Mermaid Festival fairgrounds. Families from around the local communities are joining in the fun until 4 p.m. today.

With approximately 10 different inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses, children and adults have been enjoying some friendly competition in the warm sunshine. The inflatables were provided by A-1 For Fun and North Webster Ace Hardware. From no skills to ninja-style skills, everyone found some fun obstacles to participate in.

Karilyn Metcalf ran the old-fashioned cake walk like a pro, offering over 40 donated cakes and goodies as prizes. The treats were donated by area businesses, and this reporter was even able to leave with a delicious chocolate-covered delectable. Remind me to hide it from the kids (just kidding).

Food items are available all day long from the chamber stand inside the gates. Four soups donated by Camp Crosley YMCA, The Cake Lady, Sheila’s Sweet Treats and North Webster American Legion Post 253 are for sale as well as hot dogs, hamburgers and pop. Ceramic soup bowls made by the Wawasee High School ceramic arts classes of Brian Whirledge can be purchased with or without the soup as a keepsake item.

Proceeds from the food, ceramic bowls and cake walk go toward the Santa Arrives in North Webster event to be held Saturday, Nov. 21. There are plenty of fun, colorful bowls to choose from and it’s fun to see the different designs students dreamed up.

Children can also be entered to win a prize just for decorating a festive fall pumpkin. The medium-sized white pumpkins were perfect for coloring, and the children had plenty of markers to create their festive creation. Rainbow pumpkins, galore!

Sponsors for Heart of the Harvest Fall Festival are The Car Company,The Papers Inc., North Webster Lions Club, MutualBank of North Webster, Maverick Promotions, Amazing Carpet Care, Jeff Moore Roofing, and Bart’s WaterSports.