Dixie Days kicks off in North Webster next weekend and there are a lot of actives on tap.

Ski Bees
Webster Lake Ski Bees will perform a special, free waterski show for Dixie Days on Saturday, July 28, at North Webster Town Park on Webster Lake. The pre-show begins at 5:30 p.m. and the show commences at 6 p.m. The best location to see the show and hear the narration is in the park next to where the Dixie is docked. Bring your own seating.

The club is putting on eight, free shows this season. The ones remaining after the Dixie Days Show are Aug. 4, Aug. 18 and Sept. 1. The annual picnic and ski around the lake for members will be Sept. 3.

Art Fair

The Dixie Days Art Fair reached its optimum size for the downtown North Webster lawn in front of Pilcher’s Shoes, but this year quality will be extremely notable as well.

The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28. Between 35 and 40 artisans will participate in the art fair with many more being housed in the Open Air Market. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and it will be set up outside near the North Webster Community Center. Artists and artisans will be local and regional talent representing all mediums.

For 2012, there will be new woodworkers, painters and textile artisans as well as some of the old faithfuls that all will be happy to see return.

Charity Auction

North Webster Community Center will be kicking off selling the raffle tickets for fourth annual Heart of the Community Charity Auction during Dixie Days. A table will be set up on the SR 13 side of the building to purchase the tickets from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, July 28. Various local businesses as well as the NWCC office will have tickets to sell after Saturday.

Prizes this year include a new car, pontoon, a cargo trailer and an array of other items. Proceeds from the event go to the general operations of the community center, which is largely dependent on user fees and donations to meet its annual budget.

The winner of this year’s big ticket raffle item will be able to choose between the car or the pontoon.

American Legion Events

North Webster American Legion Post 253, located on SR 13, will offer several activities and food options during Dixie Days.

Stop by the Legion to register for the cornhole contest from noon until 12:45 p.m. July 28. Cost is $10 per team; teams are not divided by age or gender, however, all participants must be 18 or over. The game will be double elimination with first place guaranteed $100. Games will start at 1 p.m.

Legion members will also be selling tickets for their yearly raffle July 28 by Pilcher’s. The first place winner of the raffle will be $3,500, second place will be $1,000 and third place will be $500. The raffle will take place at 9 p.m. July 28. All proceeds go to benefit the Legion’s veterans programs.

As far as food, the Legion will be selling brats and chips again this year July 28 at their post. Uptown the Sons of the Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary will also be serving coney dogs and root beer floats.

The Legion post will be open throughout the day to the public and is air-conditioned. The facility is also now smoke-free.

Antique Tent Sale

The Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall uses Dixie Days as an opportunity to show the community what it has to offer.

“We’ve always stressed this is a fun place to shop,” owner Karen Kann said. “People think old, and they don’t want to shop here. But we’re not your typical antique shop.”

In honor of Dixie Days, there will be a large antique tent sale offering 50 percent off all merchandise outside the mall. Additionally, everything inside the mall will be 10 percent off.

The tent will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — an hour past regular store hours. While Kann said the tent stays well stocked all day, the better bargains are typically in the morning.

To entice shoppers even more, every purchase of $25 or more earns a free lunch of a hot dog, drink and fries.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

Hot air balloon rides will be available during Dixie Days this year at the Lions Club’s  festival grounds, located off West Washington Street. Rides will be available starting at dusk July 27.

The balloon, which was donated by Remax Lake Reality, will be tethered and will give riders the opportunity to catch a bird’s eye view of the town, Webster Lake and a portion of Tippy Lake.

Cost is $5 per person. All proceeds will go toward off-setting costs of putting together Dixie Days.

Car Show

This year’s Dixie Days Car and Bike Show has changed location, but the turnout of more than 100 participants is expected to be the same.

Rather than using the field behind the North Webster Community Center like past years, the show will set up in a field on Washington Street near the Lions Fairgrounds.

The lot will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28, and participants are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot. Pre-registration is not necessary, but there will be a $10 entry fee at the lot.

All proceeds will benefit the Community Center.

There will be nine judging classes: Best GM, Best Ford, Best Mopar, Best Hotrod, Best Custom, Best Collector Car, Best Harley, Best Custom Harley and Best Metric.

Trophies handmade by a local artist will be awarded to the winner of each class.

For more information, contact Gary Ball at (574) 529-0850 or [email protected].

Comedy Film Festival

The Chicago Comedy Film Festival will be coming to North Webster at 7 p.m. July 26 at the North Webster Community Center.

As part of their Laugh-Out Local program, the Chicago Comedy Film will be showing five to six short films with the featured short film being “Sudden Death!,” which offers several celebrity appearances. All the films were featured in last year’s Chicago Comedy Film Festival.

The entire program is expected to last an hour.

Films selected to play are family friendly, but may contain mild language.

Cost is $10 at the door. Part of the proceeds go to the community center.

For information about the Chicago Comedy Film Festival, visit www.chicagocomedyfilmfestival.com.

Dixie Cruises and Games

Two additional Dixie cruises will be offered on July 28 in light of the 4th Annaul Dixie Days celebration.
In addition to the 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. cruises, the boat will also go out at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

All cruises will be regular length and price, at $7 for 75 minutes.
As usual, Captain Bob Barnes will sing love songs under the stars for the 9 p.m. cruise.

Dixie shirts will be on sale in the park by the boat dock for half price — $5 rather than the usual $10.

In addition, guests will have a chance to win a free shirt or cruise ticket by playing the Dixie shirt toss game. For $1, participants can attempt to throw a wet Dixie shirt into a wishing well.

For more information on the Dixie, visit www.ridethedixie.com or call the office at (888) 803-4943.

Dixie Fun Run

Kicking off festivities bright and early July 28 will be the Dixie Days 5k Run and 1 mile Fun Run.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. in the North Webster Church of God Parking Lot, and the race will kick off at 8 a.m.

All proceeds will help offset the cost of the 4th Annual Dixie Days Festival.

Prizes will be awarded to the male and female overall winners, as well as to winners of each age group.

The deadline for discounted pre-registration has passed, but interested participants may still register on race day for $20.

Fire Station Open House

North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Volunteer Fire Department, located on North Main Street, will be holding its open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28.

During the event, the station will be opened to the public with  trucks and equipment on display. The EMS will have an ambulance on display, too.

Also during the open house, the North Webster Lions Club will be selling hamburgers with seating available in one of the fire station’s bays.

Live Entertainment

Live entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. July 27 with two bands playing simultaneously. The Auburn Dixielanders Band will perform in the North Webster Town Park in front of the lake, while the Charles Dalton Band will play at the Lions festival grounds.

The rest of the performances will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street with a line-up of bands lasting until 4:30 p.m.

Flying Suraci will take the stage at 10 a.m., followed by Duane Eby and Mike Andrews at 11:20 a.m. At 12:40 p.m., The Bluegrass Rascals will perform, followed by Ramon Volz at 2 p.m. and Electro 35 at 3:20 p.m.

All shows are free and open to the public.

Vendors

Stop by the open air market from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28. The market will be located in front of the North Webster Community Center starting at North Street and traveling along SR 13.

Approximately 25 vendors are expected to appear with a variety of offerings to fit about everyone’s tastes.

The North Webster Public Library will also be selling books.

Some food will be available in the area with the All Saints Episcopal Church selling walking tacos.

Area wide garage sales will take place throughout the weekend, and local businesses will be offering special sidewalk sales.

For more information about Dixie Days, look for a special supplement to the Kosciusko edition of ‘the PAPER’ on July 25.