Cuties Celebrate ‘The Great Outdoors’

Remington Nabinger of North Webster entertains the crowd by performing acrobatics on her zipline. InkFreeNews photos by Shelby Harrell.

By Shelby Harrell
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — The 76th Mermaid Festival launched without a hitch Wednesday, June 22, as evening sunshine cast a glow upon participants of the annual cutie parade.

In keeping with the festival’s general theme for 2022, “The Great Outdoors,” children from North Webster and communities within the surrounding area demonstrated immense creativity through the designs of their walking, hand-drawn and motorized units.

A total of 70 units rolled down Main Street that evening, an increase from the 50 in last year’s event. Each participant designed their unit in a way that reflected their favorite outdoor recreational activity. Smokey the Bear made an appearance with his signature “Only you can prevent forest fires” public service announcement.

Trophies will be presented to the winners of the Cutie Parade by members of the North Webster Lion’s Club Friday, June 24, during the intermission of the Cutie Contest. First place winners of the Walking, Hand-Drawn and Motorized Units will receive an educational bond of $5,000, courtesy of The Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation. Second, third and fourth place within each category will receive bonds of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000.

: Zane Grady and Harper Vetor lead the parade as 2021 Cutie King and Queen, respectively. Vetor took the opportunity to practice her wave for Saturday’s pageant.

: Nathan Cotton, son of Michael and Andrea Cotton of Syracuse, is all smiles as he and his partner skied past the judges table.

: This group came equipped with puns.

: This unit demonstrated enthusiasm for deer hunting.

: A boy and his fish.

: These kids enjoyed fishing with live bait.

: Aubrey Granger sits atop her beehive.

: Wade Anderson, son of Nikolos and Abigail Anderson, coexists with a bear.

: August Sedlmeyer of Fort Wayne escorts his grandfather James Clayton down Main Street as Wilderness Explorers Russell and Carl from the 2009 Disney Pixar movie “Up.”