Contestants in the Cutie Contest are also required to participate in the Cutie Parade, which this year will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. Many of the participants ride on elaborate floats built to transport them down the parade route. Photo by The Papers Inc.

News Release

NORTH WEBSTER — The North Webster Lions Club is prepping for the 78th annual Mermaid Festival Cutie King and Queen Contest and Cutie Parade.

This year’s Mermaid Festival theme is “The American Dream.”

As part of the annual tradition, all children vying for either the king or queen title must participate in the Cutie Parade, which is slated from 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 19.

The rain date for the parade will be June 20. The parade line-up will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the North Webster Church of God.

While the parade is a requirement to participate in the Cutie Pageant, the parade is open to all children under the age of 14 as of June 1. Additionally, children participating in the Cutie Parade can also participate in the festival’s general parade June 22.

Parade entries can be hand drawn, motorized — such as golf carts or small garden tractors — or walking. Participants are also reminded to bring their confirmation letters to the parade.

The Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation Inc. will provide scholarships totaling $30,000 for the parade. Scholarships totaling $20,000 will also be provided for the pageant.

The Cutie Pageant is June 21, at the North Webster Community Center. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. and end at 6:45 p.m. The pageant itself promptly starts at 7 p.m.

The pageant is sponsored by the North Webster Lion Club and the Shoop Sports and Youth Foundation. It is open to all children between the ages of 5 and 7 as of June 1.

An admission fee of $5 for all adults and $2 for children not participating in the pageant will be charged at the gate.

Both the parade and pageant require pre-registration. Applications are available online at northwebsterlionsclub.com/APPLICATIONS.html or by calling the Mermaid Festival hotline at (574) 834-4316. The deadline for applications is June 7 and no late entries will be accepted.