Mike Beezley and Scott Hardy perform at the gazebo at Lakeside Park Saturday morning.

SYRACUSE — The weather was cool, periodic light rain, but it didn’t keep a group of people from attending the Wawasee Jazz Party at Lakeside Park this morning, Saturday, Sept. 8.

Listeners were seen sitting under the pavilion, sitting on blankets and sitting on lawn chairs to hear Beez (Mike Beezley) and the Rocker (Scott Hardy), perform from the gazebo at Lakeside Park.

The free performances featuring local bands, began with Beez and the Rocker who played until 1 p.m. followed by the Daniel Tucker Band from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Synchrony from 4 to 6 p.m. and Dos Hermanos Band from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Wawasee Jazz Party is hosted by Chautuaqua-Wawasee and is slated to be an annual event.

Performances of six nationally acclaimed jazz bands begin at 1:30 p.m. at Lakeland Eagles No 3760, 12889 N. Kern Road, Syracuse and at Oakwood Resort, 702 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse. Performances will continue at these locations through 9 p.m. at Lakeland Eagles and 10:30 p.m. at Oakwood Resort.

Two bands will be performing at Wawasee High School at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. Listen to The Original Salty Dogs at 6:30 p.m. and Dave Greer’s Jazz Stompers at 8 p.m.

If those times don’t fit your schedule, you can catch The Original Salty Dogs at Lakeland Eagles at 1:30 p.m. and at Oakwood Resort at 10:30 p.m. Climax Jazz Band will be at Lakeland Eagles only performing at 3:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

If you want to hear the Eddie Metz Trio, you can catch them at Oakwood Resort at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and at 9 p.m. at the Lakeland Eagles.

Dave Greer’s Jazz Stompers will also be performing at Oakwood Resort at 1:30 p.m. and at the Lakeland Eagles at 6 p.m.

Also performing at Oakwood Resort will be the Gull Lake Jazz at 8 p.m.

The party will end Sunday with an extended boat-in worship service at 8 p.m. on the S.S. Lillypad followed by the a gospel jazz performance by Climax Jazz Band at the Oakwood Gazebo starting at 9:30 a.m. A breakfast buffet at the restaurant will follow.

With the exception of the performances at Lakeside Park, which is free, ticket prices are $20 per venue.

The Walach family enjoy the free performance of Beez and The Rocker at Lakeside Park. From left, are Adam, Abraham, Andew, Audrey and Amelia.