WINONA LAKE —  Get your sunscreen ready! Summer lakes season is here. May 26 marks the beginning of the lakes season with the Northern Indiana Lakes Festival, hosted by the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College.

The free event, now in its ninth year, takes place at Center Lake Park in Warsaw, and includes workshops, educational booths, children’s activities, entertainment, fireworks and more.  As festival participants complete activities, they will earn stamps on an “educational passport” and receive water-themed prizes for completed passports. 

“This festival is a great way for the community to enjoy the outdoors while also learning about responsible care for our local lakes and streams,” said Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams. “We are thankful to our many sponsors and organizations who have helped grow this event to more than 6,000 participants last year, and the many community volunteers who help make the event successful.”

This year’s top sponsors include DePuy Synthes, Kosciusko County Convention Recreation and Visitors Commission, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Maple Leaf Farms, Silveus Insurance Group and Zimmer Biomet.  Toyota Motor North America also donated a new 2017 Toyota Tacoma to help support research and education efforts toward cleaner water resources, including the Lilly Center’s Classroom Lake Experience.

“The programs offered by the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams help improve knowledge of local water resources and inspire the next generation toward responsible actions,” said Kevin Butt, general manager of environmental sustainability, Toyota Motor North America.

The Lakes Festival takes place May 26-28, 2017.  For more information visit online.