2021 Mermaid Festival begins Wednesday

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. – The 75th Annual North Webster Mermaid Festival kicks off this Wednesday in Kosciusko County.

The festival, hosted by the North Webster Lions Club, runs from June 23 to June 26 and features events for the whole family.

Why mermaids? Scott Fox, Lions Club Secretary, explained the name started as a bit of a gimmick. When the event originally started as a fishing festival, it was a clever name to draw crowds. Today, as you enter the festival, two hand painted mermaids will greet you at the gate, and there is a plethora of mermaid signs and lights across the grounds.

The Festival begins at 4 p.m. with the NW United Methodist Strawberry Festival. Midway rides open at 5 p.m. and the evening continues with the Cutie Parade at 6:30 p.m.

The Midway opens at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at noon on Saturday.

Families can also enjoy a variety of merchant and food vendors at the Festival and a weekend of activities, including Kidbuck$ Game Shows, a coin hunt, a demolition derby, and more.

Wristbands are $20 each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 5 p.m. to close.

On Saturday, wristbands are $20 each from noon to 5 p.m. and $20 each from 5 p.m. to close.

Parking is free.

For more information, visit the Mermaid Festival’s website and Facebook page.