Ace Richcreek of Syracuse, rides his entry featuring a pirate ship and mermaids in the Cutie Parade held Wednesday night, June 23.
By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — The 75th Mermaid Festival kicked off in style with the annual cutie parade Wednesday night, June 23. While there was some concern regarding the weather earlier in the day, for the parade itself, the weather was perfect with a light breeze and sun shining on the entries as they walked past the judges stand.
Residents and visitors lined SR 13 as children from North Webster and surrounding communities paraded in walking, hand-drawn and motorized units.
This year there were 50 units, down from the 97 that made up the Cutie Parade in 2019. Still judges had their work cut out for them as the units showed a lot of creativity and imagination with this year’s festival theme, “Through the Years.”
Units captured specific times in sports, Mermaid Festival history and families history with the parade itself. Even the “oldest goldfish in Webster Lake” made an appearance in the parade.
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JD Kimmel in a hand draw unit pulled by his dad, highlighted his
family’s history with the Cuite Parade and Mermaid Festival. Kimmel is his son of Sam and RaeAnne Kimmel of Greencastle
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Penelope Baker of Leesburg walked in the parade as the first Queen of the Lakes.
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Jay Roberts re-enacts Coach Bobby Knight’s infamous chair throw at the Cutie Parade
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Kinley Jones went back to the 1950s when car hops were popular at the drive in burger joints.
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Hazel Julian of Warsaw reminded everyone of Rosie the Riveter’s can do spirit
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Cambrie Garden of Leesburg’s motorized unit reminded everyone what the Cutie Parade and Contest are all about- college scholarships.
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Aubri Winans of Churubusco flashed back to the 1960s in her groovy hippie outfit. She made sure the judges got some treats as well.
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Gavin Jasso of Millersburg chose to highlight the stone age for his hand-drawn entry in this year’s cutie parade.
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Lane Likens of North Webster featured the groovy 70s in his motorized unit.
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Amelia (Millie) Shoemaker and her parents Curt and Amanda Shoemaker highlighted the Shriner’s being in parades in her walking unit.
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Oskar Moreno Elst was the oldest living goldfish at the Mermaid Festival in his walking unit. He also delighted the crowd by dropping ping pong balls out of his costume.