The Lakes Festival
The Lakes Festival is being reimagined!
During the challenges that 2020 presented, the Lilly Center took advantage of the opportunity to reimagine its crowd-favorite community event, the Lakes Festival. That year would have been its 12th-annual celebration of the lakes; however, it was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.
After reviewing its mission and goals, the Lilly Center engaged its long-time partner, the City of Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department, in conversations to help map the future of the event. The decisions made leverage the strengths of both organizations and will result in a dynamic, family-friendly experience for lake and music enthusiasts alike.
The City will take over the operational aspects of the festival, combining educational and water activities with their annual blues concert. Adults can absorb the sweet sounds of blues bands while watching the sunset over Center Lake, and kids can enjoy lakeside learning and fun. Vendors will be available for attendees to enjoy festival food and pick up some locally-made goods.
This arrangement will allow the Lilly Center to continue its role in the event but in a more specialized manner.
Our team will coordinate the educational and water-related components, ensuring that young visitors will come away with a deeper appreciation for the lakes. We plan to offer several Science Stations, where kids can try experiments for themselves. Other attractions will include boat tours of Center Lake and an inflatable obstacle course.
The 2021 festival has been cancelled, but 2022 is on the horizon.
We are looking forward to the 2022 festival!
The Lilly Center is already creating content for Science Stations, and the City of Warsaw is laying the groundwork for a series of excellent blues concerts, food trucks and water activities. Stay tuned!