Dave Tranter of North Webster peruses the wares of one of the many tables selling antiques at the 10th Annual Dixie Day Festival. (Photo by David Hazledine)

NORTH WEBSTER — Organizers of the 10th annual Dixie Day Festival in North Webster were thrilled to see a large turnout Saturday, July 28, as visitors enjoyed ideal weather conditions in which to peruse the wares of food vendors, arts and crafts tents, antique dealers, car and boat shows and much more, including the vessel for which the event is named: The Dixie, the oldest sternwheel paddle boat in Indiana.

“It’s the best weather we’ve ever had,” enthused Karilyn Metcalf, president of the Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. board of directors, which oversees The Dixie. “Everybody is having a ball.”

The Dixie Day Festival has doubled the number of food vendors since it started in 2008. (Photo by David Hazledine)

Most of Dixie Day took place within a few blocks of downtown North Webster along SR 13, in the town park and at the Mermaid Festival Grounds, a fact appreciated by Carla Raynor and her mother, Alice Nelson, who came from Syracuse.

“Dixie Day is nice and compact,” said Raynor as the pair browsed the Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall where dealers displayed items at a 50 percent discount. “There are many worthwhile things to buy,” Nelson added. “We’ve already taken one load to the car.”

Carla Raynor, left, and Alice Nelson of Syracuse appreciated how “compact” Dixie Day was. (Photo by David Hazledine)

Linda Land, a member of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, described how Dixie Day has grown in its first decade. “It’s progressed a lot. We’ve doubled the amount of vendors,” she observed. Shows exhibiting boats, tractors and vintage snowmobiles have also been added.

Another recent addition was the all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast served by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Fire Department. Jim Heintzelman, assistant chief at Cromwell Fire Department, was in attendance with his family. “They come to support us and we come to support them,” he stated.

Jim Heintzelman, Cromwell Fire Dept. assistant chief, left, enjoyed the North Webster Fire Department’s breakfast with daughter Mary Kiser, seated, and granddaughters Annabell, left, and Allison Kiser, seated on Mary’s lap. (Photo by David Hazledine)

This sentiment was echoed at the boat show, where six boat dealers had new and used boats on sale. “It’s a win-win for all,” said Jack Angel of Griffith’s Wawasee Marina. “This is a nice way to meet a lot of people.”

Dino Coverstone of Sock’s Marina conceived the event in 2017 as a type of closeout sale to encourage summer residents to buy support local businesses, and its success prompted a return to the Mermaid Festival Grounds in 2018.

Todd Sobieralski, left, won the people’s choice award for his ’56 Oliver tractor. Al Price stands right. (Photo by David Hazledine)

Todd Sobieralski of Niles, Mich., entered his 1956 Oliver tractor in the Dixie Day vintage tractor show at the suggestion of Al Price, who discovered the event after running in the 5K. Sobieralski ended up winning the people’s choice award and taking home $100.

“It’s a fun little town to be in,” echoed Jeanne Slain, who, along with her husband, Mike, owns a cottage on Big Barbee Lake. The Slains watched as their grandchildren sat with colorful birds perched on their arms.

From left are Samanth and Michaela Voors of Fort Wayne, with Jeanine Knowles of Bible Tails. (Photo by David Hazledine)

The birds, Indian Ringnecks, are part of Fur and Feather Bible Tails, which had a tent among the vendors in the arts and crafts area.

Amber Utter and Jeanine Knowles, who operate Bible Tails, name their animals after Biblical characters and use them to teach children stories from the Bible.

Nearby, Tom Holzinger of Roanoke showed one of his hardwood banks to Janelle Johnson of North Webster. “I love it,” said Johnson of Dixie Day as her family headed over to the food vendor area for lunch.

Later, at the Dixie boat launch, Bob Dailey, the captain of the nearly 90-year-old vessel, disembarked after the last cruise of the afternoon. “We’ve had beautiful weather and a lot of passengers on each trip,” he said. In fact, the night before the 130 capacity boat was nearly sold out on one trip.

It seems Pat Neibert, a Milford resident and car show contestant, was right when he said, “Nostalgia is still popular.”

The Dixie Captain Bob Dailey brings another cruise to an end. On shore is crew member Jonathan Pfenning. The Dixie is the longest serving sternwheel excursion boat in Indiana. (Photo by David Hazledine)