Dixie Days Events Noted
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As part of Dixie Days, the Webster Lake Ski Bees will present a free show, Saturday, July 28. The pre-show is 5:30 p.m. and the main attraction at 6 p.m. Head to North Webster Town Park for the best vantage point but bring seating. (Photo by Mike Deak)
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.
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June Yazel, Mentone, spins while sitting at her booth at the Dixie Days Art Fair in 2011. Artisans will exhibit and sell on the downtown North Webster lawn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Open Air Market near the North Webster Community Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 28. (File photo)
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.
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Golden Seaton, left, accepts a coney dog from American Legion Auxiliary member Jerri Harper. The Sons of the Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary will be selling coney dogs and root beer floats again this year. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
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.
- As part of Dixie Days, the Webster Lake Ski Bees will present a free show, Saturday, July 28. The pre-show is 5:30 p.m. and the main attraction at 6 p.m. Head to North Webster Town Park for the best vantage point but bring seating. (Photo by Mike Deak)
- Tickets for the North Webster Community Center fundaiser, Heart of the Community Auction will go on sale during Dixie Days, Saturday, July 28 in front of the building. The auction is set for Saturday, Oct. 6. This is just a portion of the crowd that attended the 2011 event. (File photo)
- June Yazel, Mentone, spins while sitting at her booth at the Dixie Days Art Fair in 2011. Artisans will exhibit and sell on the downtown North Webster lawn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Open Air Market near the North Webster Community Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 28. (File photo)
- Several visitors turned out to check out the 2011 open air market during Dixie Days. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
- Several unique, vintage snowmobiles will be on hand during the Snowmobile Show & Swap July 28-29 at the Lions Club festival grounds like this “Bumble Bee” snowmobile on display during the Indiana Vintage Snowmobile Association’s winter show in February. (Photo by Sarah Wright)
- Members of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce Dixie Days committee gathered on the Dixie for their picture. From the left are Stacey Cox, Linda Land, Karilyn Metcalf, Helen Leinbach, Michelle Reedy and Doris Jean Reedy. Not present were Tonya Bowser and Jen Ducey. To be held from July 26-July 28, the fourth annual Dixie Days celebrates North Webster’s best loved and most known landmark, the Dixie stern wheel paddle boat, which is just turning 83 years of age. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)
- Owner Karen Kann stressed that Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall is a fun place to shop. She never knows what the dealers have to offer on a particular day, but she knows there’s something for everyone — from furniture to glassware to sports merchandise. (File photo)
- Cars and bikes set up in the field behind the North Webster Community Center for the 2011 Car and Bike Show. The show will be located just west of SR 13 on Washington Street this year, and the lot will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28.
- In addition to the regular 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. cruises, there will be two additional cruise times on July 28 — one at 1 p.m. and another at 2:30 p.m. (Photo provided)
- Fort Wayne musician Ramon Volz performs at Third Place Coffeehouse in Huntertown earlier this year. He will be playing at Dixie Days at 2 p.m. July 28. (Photo provided)
- Golden Seaton, left, accepts a coney dog from American Legion Auxiliary member Jerri Harper. The Sons of the Legion and the Women’s Auxiliary will be selling coney dogs and root beer floats again this year. (Photo by Sarah Wright)