NORTH WEBSTER — Come one, come all to the Dixie Day Festival & Artisan Fair. Most events will take place between 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, July 29. There is no entry fee to the festival. It celebrates the Dixie sternwheel paddle boat that has been cruising Webster Lake since 1929.

Free parking is behind the North Webster Church of God, 306 N. Main St. and North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St. and on town streets as allowed.

Locations include SR 13 in downtown North Webster, West Washington Street from SR 13 at the downtown stoplight to the Mermaid Festival Grounds including the grounds and North Webster Town Park where the Dixie boat is moored.

A sanctioned 5K run starts the day off at 8 a.m. at the North Webster Community Center with awards following at the finish line in front of Dixie Landing in the park.

It is wise to begin your day at the North Webster Chamber of Commerce Information Booth in front of Pilcher’s Shoes castle for maps and schedules. It is open from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.

More than 60 vendors will be arranged on the Pilcher’s lawn including art and crafts artisans. Face painting for the kids will be available for a fee.

Many more vendors will be on the lawn and up and down SR 13 or Main Street including novelty items, direct sales, flea market items and others.

North Webster Community Center will host an Open Air Market along SR 13.

Local businesses will have specials and an event not to be missed is the Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall Tent Fair.

A food court will be on West Washington Street as well as vendors. Follow it down to the car, truck and motorcycle show, the tractor show. These will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Continue on West Washington Street to the Mermaid Grounds to see local area dealers boat show featuring five area dealer and the vintage snowmobile show. The boat show will also be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 27, 28 and 29.

The Dixie sternwheel paddle boat will be giving tours for the usual $7 at 1, 2:30, 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. from Dixie Landing in North Webster Town Park. Games for kids will be held in the park from 1-3 p.m.

Tickets for the Dixie are sold at the Dixie window on the north end of Lake View Pizza King in the park. Free parking is available across from the restaurant and behind Dixie Haven Resort off of East Himes Street.

The festival has been sponsored by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce for nine years.