Human hamster balls, large plastic spheres that allow visitors to “walk on water,” are making a return appearance at the 2019 Lakes Festival.

WINONA LAKE — The Northern Indiana Lakes Festival, from May 24 to 26 at Center Lake Park in Warsaw, is ready to entertain and educate visitors with a wide variety of lake-focused activities, workshops, vendors, prizes, a parade and more.

“When we design the Lakes Festival weekend, we always ask ourselves how we can turn lake recreation into a learning tool,” said Dugan Julian, events coordinator at the Lilly Center. “We want our friends and family to get outside and enjoy the lakes. We also want them to understand why the lakes matter and how to protect them.”

The 2019 Lakes Festival features two workshops and a wide variety of education booths, but visitors are invited to kick off Saturday at the second annual parade. The parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. and follow Center Street from the City of Warsaw Parks and Recreation building to Center Lake Park. After the parade, put on a swimsuit and compete against a friend on the Aquaglide, a floating obstacle course, visit education and artisan vendors to win prizes, or have a seat with Boho Studio Arts for a face painting. At lunch time, grab a meal from one of the Lakes Festival’s food vendors, like Holy Smokes BBQ, Beer’s Confections and Red Barn.

The Saturday activities continue well into the evening, with human hamster balls, bouncy houses, the Caffeinated Canvas and Native Plant workshops, Silly Safari and three live concerts.

“The day will end with a special fireworks display,” said Julian. “It’s even rumored to rival local Fourth of July shows. You won’t want to miss it.”

Return on Sunday for lunch and the Memorial Day ceremony, featuring a 21-gun salute and a special World War II fly-over by the Hooligan Flight Team. After the art contest ceremony at 1:30 p.m., the Lake City Skiers will end the festival with their annual show.

A full Lakes Festival schedule and workshop sign-ups are available at lakesfestival.org. Contact Dugan Julian at (574) 372-5100, ext. 6452, with specific questions or to sign up for a workshop.

This year’s festival is sponsored by 212 Media Studios, City of Warsaw Stormwater Utility, DePuy Synthes, Kensington Digital Media, Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, KREMC Operation Round-Up, Mad Bomber Fireworks, Maple Leaf Farms, Sodexo, Warsaw Parks and Recreation, WNIT and Zimmer Biomet.