Syracuse’s Lakeside Park hosting July 4 activities

Syracuse’s Lakeside Park is hosting several activities July 4. Food trucks, fireworks, and live music will take place at the park this year.

Food vendors set up at around

4 p.m. and fireworks begin at dusk.

Lakeside Park offers great views of fireworks going off in the sky. Take a seat at the park and enjoy a fireworks display over

Syracuse Lake. Attendees will also be able to enjoy food trucks and a live performance of the Lake Area Community Band. The fireworks are sponsored by the Syracuse Lake Association.

Hardwood has been the executive director of the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation for 25 years. She has been instrumental in the hard works of the WACF and her dedicated work has ensured that generations to come can enjoy the beauty of the lakes, just like she has her whole life.

Harwood has been a lover of the lakes since she was a child. Growing up, she spent her summers swimming and waterskiing, both activities she still loves to do, as she now resides on Syracuse Lake. She also enjoys being on land, often hiking one of the surround trails in the area. “I just like being outside,” said Harwood. Harwood also runs a successful landscaping architecture business. She has dedicated her career to being environmentally responsible and enhance the beauty of the lakes and nature through her landscaping architecture.

When asked about her initial reaction to being named Commodore, Harwood said, “I was shocked, I was not sure if they were actually talking to me. I heard my name but it did not even register for a minute. But once it did, then I was honored. This is such a honor.”

Harwood has participated in the Flotilla as a viewer, and ridden on WACF’s float in past years. Hardwood mentioned, “I am excited to participate as Commodore and see everybody’s hard work and creativity, hopefully this sunburn heals by then!”

The 2023 Wawasee Flotilla is 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 1 starting in front of the Wawasee Spink, 12275 N. Ogden Point Road, Syracuse, moving counterclockwise around the lake.