Photo of one of the participating floats from Mermaid Festival 2022.

Staff Report

NORTH WEBSTER — An old theme has become the theme for this year’s Mermaid Festival. The theme of this year’s festival is “Life is Better in North Webster.”

It is the same one the North Webster Lions Club members found out was used in the past.

Lions club member Scott Fox said apparently this year’s theme was identical to one from many years ago. Lions Club members found some old buttons and signs with the same theme. Fox said they discovered the treasures at the Lions building after voting on “Life is Better in North Webster.”

According to Mark Lawson, club president, he likes this year’s theme because it is about “what I remember growing up.”

Lawson was born and raised in North Webster. “I like the down-to-earth atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a small community and everybody helps everybody.”

The Lions Club came up with about 25 themes, narrowed it down to five, then voted on the one chosen. In the last 77 years, the Lions Club has always chosen the theme.

“We will take anybody’s ideas,” he said. “We already know next year’s theme.”

The theme is very relevant for both the Queen of Lakes and Cutie pageants, said Lawson, as contestants can design different parade floats based on “Life is Better in North Webster.”

“It’s more so for the Cutie parade,” Lawson said.

Parade participants are encouraged to incorporate the theme into their float designs, including the Queen of Lakes contestants.

Fox, who has lived in North Webster for the past 34 years, raised his two now grown children in the community. “It’s a great place to raise a family,” said Fox, the club’s secretary. “I think our members just like our little town.”

Fox added, “We have everything we need in North Webster.”

Fox is also the entertainment chairman. Like Lawson, Fox stressed this year’s theme is important for both pageants.

As of press time, there are 18 Queen of Lakes contestants this year.
“It’s important how they portray the theme since they get judged on that, too,” said Fox.