Many events are being planned in local communities to celebrate Independence Day. Events include:

Goshen

Fireworks will begin around 10 p.m. Sunday at Black Squirrel Golf Course as part of Celebrate America events. Other Sunday events at Black Squirrel include a Civil War re-enactment starting at 4 p.m. and a patriotic program at 8:30 p.m.

Syracuse

On Friday at Lakeside Park from 4 p.m. to dusk, Lakes Area Players will be selling popcorn, Sno-cones and funnel cakes. Lakeland Youth Center will be selling hot dogs, candy, pop, pretzels and cheese, nachos and cheese and glow necklaces — along with Boss Hog’s homemade pork barbecue sandwiches and chicken fajita pita sandwiches. There will also be petting zoo and pony rides.

Syracuse Lake

Fireworks in Syracuse will begin Friday at 10 p.m. on Syracuse Lake. People can watch from Lakeside Park on North Long Drive where parking and fireworks are free. Also, the Lakes Area Community Band will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. in the park and this event is also free of charge.

Lake Wawasee

Saturday night offers Lake Wawasee’s annual “Big Bang Boom” on the east side of the lake at the public access site on C.R. 1000, the old fish hatchery and current Department of Natural Resources site. The fireworks will be shot from a barge off shore and boaters are welcome to watch from the water. The display is set to begin at 10 p.m. and there is no charge. Parking is limited at the site.

Webster Lake

Fireworks will be Friday at dusk.

Tippecanoe Lake

Fireworks will be Saturday at dusk.



Nappanee

A full day of activities is planned Saturday for residents of Nappanee and visitors to the community. Stauffer Park will be the center of most of the activities. At 8 a.m. there will be a golf tournament at McCormick Creek Municipal Golf Course. At 9 a.m. a Junior Olympics will take place at the park. At 11 a.m. the annual Water Ball contest will be held.

From noon to 4 p.m. the community pool will be open for free swimming. Parade lineup begins at 6:30 p.m. on West Lincoln Street. The parade will take off at 7 p.m. leaving City Hall and traveling to Stauffer Park.

The evening will end with a fireworks display at dusk, approximately 10:30 p.m.



Elkhart — The city’s Independence Day celebration will start at 7 p.m. Friday at Elkhart Central High School’s Rice Field.

Entrances open at 6 p.m. The parking fee will be $5 per vehicle, which includes admission.

Allen Strike of WTRC will be broadcasting live. Don Savoie of Savoie Blue will begin playing at 7:15 p.m. with The Volunteers of the U.S. Army Field Band taking the field at 8:45 p.m.

A fireworks display will follow the last musical performance.





Topeka — Two new events will take place Friday during Topeka’s weekend Independence Day celebration. A softball tournament will take place and Westview art honor students will display their talents on a “Chalk Walk” on a sidewalk at Farmer’s State Bank on Main Street. For information about the softball tournament, call (260) 593-9199 or visit the Web site www.topekasoftball.com.

Saturday events include a Dollars for Scholars pancake and sausage breakfast at Tiffany’s Restaurant from 7 to 10 a.m. At 8 a.m. a road run and fun walk steps off on Lake Street in front of the Sale Barn.

A three-on-three basketball tournament will also tip off at 8 for players ages 10 to 18. An open division will follow tournament play. Contact Aurora Services at (260) 463-4901 for more information.

At 9 a.m., the Topeka Historical Society Depot Museum will open for tours through 4 p.m.

At 10 a.m. there will be children’s games in East Park with prizes for children of all ages. Also at 10 will be a pony pull in the Sale Barn Horse Arena; and an Elkhart County Garden Tractor Pull at East Park. A Big Wheel Race, with vehicles provided, for children ages 3 to 6 will begin at 11 and the Lion’s Club barbecue and pork burger cookout will take place in the Lock Credit Union Parking Lot.

A horse pull begins at 1 p.m. in the Sale Barn. A NASCAR-style National Car Pedal Race, with vehicles provided, will take place for children ages 5 to 12, also at 1.

At 3:30 p.m., the Inclognita Cloggers will perform at the East Park Pavilion. At 5:30 p.m., the parade begins and at 6:15 (immediately following the parade) buggy races will begin on Main Street.

A free concert will be given from 7 to 9 p.m. in the park and Shilo, a country rock band with local roots, will perform.

Fireworks will begin around 10 p.m.

There will be a Food Festival Alley and games in the park all day.