Festival Goers Brave Heat And Rain For Annual Cutie Parade
Aubrey Granger puts flour in a giant mixer on her ‘American As Apple Pie’ float. The theme of this year’s Mermaid Festival is ‘The American Dream.’ Attendees braved high heat and rain to see kids promenade down the street in some quite elaborately designed floats and costumes.
Text and Photos
By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — Despite the 90 degree heat and a smattering of early evening rain on Wednesday, June 19, residents still lined the streets of downtown North Webster for the annual Cutie Parade. This fondly regarded tradition kicks off each year’s Mermaid Festival.
For this year’s festival, the 78th, the theme is ‘The American Dream.’ Promenading down Washington Street were miniature Lady Liberties, aspiring presidents, future farmers and many more.
Despite the bevy of options, the parade judges can only pick so many winners. These winners will be announced during the Cutie Pageant, which will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, June 21 at the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main Street.
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- The judges are pictured getting out their umbrellas as rain starts to fall just before the Cutie Parade begins.
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- AJ Kimmell appears as a mechanic in his own garage-themed float.
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- Remington Nabinger, an aspiring future president, waves to the crowd.
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- Brycen Hershberger danced down the street with puppets that followed his movements.
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- Ace Richcreek surveys the crowd from atop his tractor float.
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- Lincoln Granger provides the origins of the phrase “American Dream” in his game show-themed display.
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- Annie Hardy is drawn down the street dressed as Opha May Johnson, the first female Marine.
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- Aspiring artist Rihanna Alley parades with an easel.
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- Reagan Risedorph dressed as Betsy Ross, a woman who has gone down in history as the seamstress who sewed the original American Flag.
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- August Sedlemeyer throws a miniature football from his float.
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- Future farmer Phinneus DuBois tosses candy to the crowd from a paper bag.
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- Aspiring astronaut Hazel Sedelmeyer parades down the street with mother Kristen Sedelmeyer.
