Although this year’s Mermaid Festival Cutie Parade was smaller than in year’s past, the newly installed sound system made the event seem as large as ever.

Speakers were mounted on posts lining SR 13, echoing the announcer’s voice through the North Webster downtown as he introduced each cutie contestant.

There were 67 cuties to enter in this year’s pageant, a few dozen less than the recent average. But what the parade lacked in quantity, it made up in quality. Floats awed the judges and the spectators and walking units impressed with their creativity.

This year’s theme is “Creatures of the Deep vs. Superheroes,” and cutie parade entries decorated their floats accordingly. Many even dressed as superheroes and battled sea creatures.

The number of entries wasn’t the only thing that decreased this year. The stage was halved in size just hours before the start of the parade. A Lions Club member explained that state inspectors deemed the judge’s stage unsafe after the Indiana State Fair stage collapse.

Each parade category — walking, hand drawn and motorized units — will award cash prizes for the top four entries at 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, on the main stage.

See more photos for sale at The Stacey Page Online Photo Store.