Lakeside Park in Syracuse was humming with activities Friday evening such as the group of boys in the photo above who played an impromptu game of soccer in a grassy area. Children had fun on the playground equipment, some enjoyed swimming in Syracuse Lake and others just gathered on the picnic tables or in lawn chairs to chat and enjoy a pleasantly comfortable evening.

There were vendors on site and the Lakeland Youth Center and Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club also had a presence at the park. The Lake Area Community Band, now in its 26th year and directed by Martin Becker, performed a concert featuring a variety of songs.

The evening will culminate later with the fireworks being shot over Syracuse Lake.