Keagan Richards, 16 months, of Plymouth, Mich., was at the lake for the Independence Day weekend to visit family. He spent part of his morning enjoying the playground at Lakeside Park in Syracuse. InkFreeNews photos by Keith Knepp.

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Although Independence Day doesn’t officially come until Monday, Syracuse was brimming with activities on Saturday, as lakers and locals alike descended upon the town for the holiday weekend.

The hardworking firefighters of Syracuse-Turkey Creek Fire Territory changed gears from putting out the flames to cooking over them. Vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians alike were lined up before 10 a.m. at the fire station on Huntington Street to purchase a share of the 600 chicken halves and 500 pork chops being cooked up on open flames in front of the building. The sale will go on until they are sold out, which usually happens quickly.

Across the street in Veterans Memorial Park at Crosson Mill, craft, produce and food vendors were displaying their offerings under tents as part of the weekly Artisans and Farmers Market, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Sept. 3.

Down at Lakeside Park, across from the Syracuse Community Center, families were starting to gather to enjoy the warm sunshine and cool waters of Syracuse Lake’s public beach. Others were there to use the playground equipment or just sit and enjoy the day on one of the park’s benches.

Fourth of July weekend in Syracuse is in full swing.Get out and enjoy the day!