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Experience the Magic of the Old-Fashioned Christmas!

Experience the Magic of the Old Fashioned Christmas! 

Are you looking for a unique, fun-filled family activity to kick off the holiday season? Look no further than Chautauqua Wawasee’s Old-Fashioned Christmas! This beloved annual event in Syracuse is back and bigger than ever in 2024, offering even more family-friendly activities.

Highlights of the Celebration

  • Meet Santa and His Reindeer: Kids can enjoy a special moment with Santa and even pet his live reindeer!
  • Live Nativity: Experience the true meaning of Christmas with our live nativity scene.
  • Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides: Take a cozy ride through the festive grounds.
  • Enjoy a special reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”: by one of Santa’s very own Elves!
  • Big Tree Lighting: Witness the magical lighting of our 50-foot Christmas tree, a highlight of the evening.
  • Reading of the Christmas Story: Join us at the historic Oakwood Chapel for a heartfelt reading of the Christmas story from the Bible, keeping Christ in Christmas.
  • Christmas Photo Booth: Capture the perfect family moment with our festive photo booth, complete with props and your phone’s camera.
  • Holiday Characters: Keep an eye out for Frosty, the Grinch, Rudolph, Buddy the Elf, the Toy Soldier, and the Gingerbread Man, who will be roaming the park for fun and photo opportunities.
  • Fun Holiday Games for Kids: Keep the kiddos entertained with fun games!

Event Details

  • When: November 30, 5:30 – 8:00 PM (Music starts at 5:30 PM- Activities start at 6 PM)
  • Where: Oakwood Resort,(outdoor event, so dress for the weather)-702 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse, IN
  • Cost: Free and open to the public!

Join us for an evening filled with joy, laughter, and holiday spirit! For updates and more details, check our Facebook page HERE. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Note: We hope for a bit of snow to enhance the festive atmosphere, but in case of severe weather, please check our Facebook page for updates.

Chautauqua Wawasee Old Fashioned Christmas

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2025: The Best Year Yet with Chautauqua-Wawasee Programs!

2025: The Best Year Yet with Chautauqua-Wawasee Programs!

Chautauqua-Wawasee offers an incredible lineup of programs throughout 2025, providing enriching experiences rooted in the Four Chautauqua Pillars: Arts, Education, Faith, and Recreation. With something for everyone, the year kicks off with the Ball State Singers in February, setting the stage for a year filled with cultural and educational events.

From the Old Fashioned Hymn Sing in April to the Patriotic Pops Concert in June, and the Famous Hoosiers – Eli Lilly presentation in July, each event brings unique insights and entertainment. Art lovers will enjoy multiple hands-on opportunities, including Pottery Workshops, a Plein Air Workshop, and a new Stained Glass Workshop series.

Community favorites like the Pawasee Dog Parade and the Syracuse Ghost Tour promise family fun, while history enthusiasts can look forward to a visit from a Patriotic Speaker: Teddy Roosevelt and the Wawasee “Then & Now” Historical Cruise.

Closing out the year, the Old Fashioned Christmas in November wraps up the season, bringing the community together in festive spirit. Chautauqua-Wawasee’s programs are designed to create lasting memories and enrich lives, making 2025 truly “the best year yet!”

Join us for these unforgettable events and create memories that last a lifetime!

Chautauqua-Wawasee 2025 Events

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Ball State Singers Return to Syracuse in 2025 – Don’t Miss This Unforgettable Performance!

Ball State Singers Return to Syracuse in 2025 – Don’t Miss This Unforgettable Performance!


The Ball State Singers are back in Syracuse, Indiana, for a highly anticipated performance on Sunday, February 16th, 2025, at 3:30 PM. Presented by Chautauqua-Wawasee, this exciting event will be held at the Wawasee High School Auditorium.

This talented musical ensemble offers a diverse and dynamic repertoire, including gospel, vocal jazz, swing, contemporary hits, romantic ballads, classical choral selections, barbershop, folk, patriotic standards, opera choruses, country, and novelty tunes. With a blend of small group performances, incredible soloists, and lively choreography, the Ball State Singers will deliver a 90-minute musical experience that you won’t forget.

Celebrate the return of Wawasee High School alum, Devin Van Lue, as part of this one-of-a-kind performance!

Devin Van Lue-Ball State University Singers

 

Event Details:

  • Date: Sunday, February 16th, 2025
  • Time: 3:30 PM (Doors open at 3:00 PM)
  • Location: Wawasee High School Auditorium, Syracuse, IN

Ticket Prices:

  • VIP Tickets: $20
  • General Admission: $10

The Ball State Singers are Indiana’s official goodwill ambassadors and have been recognized since 1964 as one of America’s top collegiate entertainment groups. Whether you’re a fan of jazz, classical, pop, or patriotic music, this performance offers something for everyone. Don’t miss this special opportunity to see one of the nation’s most acclaimed university ensembles right here in Syracuse.

Plan Your Visit:

Arrive early to explore local dining options before the show or enjoy a bite to eat afterward. Check out our calendar for more exciting Chautauqua Wawasee events – 2025 promises to be our best year yet!

Get Your Tickets Now!

Click HERE to purchase tickets on Eventbrite.

Make plans to join us for an afternoon of incredible music and entertainment with the Ball State Singers at Wawasee High School!

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Volunteer Opportunities at Chautauqua Wawasee

Volunteer Opportunities at Chautauqua-Wawasee

Volunteer Opportunities at Chautauqua-Wawasee

Chautauqua-Wawasee is a volunteer-driven organization, and we are always looking for passionate individuals to get involved and make a difference in our community. Whether you have a few hours to spare or are ready to take on a larger commitment, there are many ways to contribute to our mission and help support our events and programs.

We offer flexible volunteer roles ranging from short-term tasks to long-term responsibilities, and training will be provided for all positions. Some roles are specific to individual events, while others span the full year. Below is a list of volunteer opportunities at Chautauqua Wawasee that are available, and we’d love to have you join us!

Program-Related Roles

  • Program Champion: Take responsibility for organizing and leading a program or event, including coordinating logistics and volunteers. The Marketing Team will handle advertising and promotion.
    • Possible Champion Needs: Historical Cruises, Digging Through History, Waterfowl Festival
  • Program Co-Champion: Assist a Program Champion by providing support as needed.
    • Possible Co-Champion Needs: Art Festival, Pawasee, Patriotic Speaker
  • Identify New Programs: Help create and implement new programs that meet community needs.
  • Feedback Analyst: Collect and transcribe attendee feedback from programs (e.g., satisfaction, location, and event sources) and summarize it for the Program Champion.
  • Greeters: Welcome attendees as they arrive at programs (task rotates among a team, specific to individual events).
  • Program Setup/Teardown: Help set up tables, chairs, and materials before a program and clean up afterward.
  • Program Ticket Taker/Check-In: Manage sign-ins or collect tickets at the door for ticketed events (task is specific to individual events).

Financial Management Roles

  • Financial Analysis: Perform monthly variance analysis of financial results versus the annual plan.
  • Investment Manager: Manage the organization’s excess funds through CD purchases and rollovers.
  • Grant Writing: Identify relevant grant opportunities and submit applications to secure funding.

Marketing and Communications Roles

  • Fundraising: Help organize and implement fundraising campaigns for Chautauqua-Wawasee.
  • Write Articles: Create articles to promote CHQW and its programs.
  • Write Press Releases: Work with the Marketing Team to craft press releases and send them to media contacts.
  • Marketing Calendar: Maintain the comprehensive marketing calendar, requiring proficiency with MS Excel and pivot table skills.

Community Outreach Champions

  • Milford, Warsaw, Goshen, Elkhart: Become a Community Outreach Champion for one of these areas to help spread the word about our programs and mission.

Other Volunteer Needs

  • Wawasee Neighborhood Outreach: Help build a contact list of Wawasee community members and establish communication channels to improve outreach and engagement.
  • Volunteer Manager: Organize and coordinate volunteers, working with Program Champions to ensure proper staffing for events and programs.
  • Data Clean-Up: Analyze, organize, and clean up our stakeholder database in MS Excel.
  • CHQW Evangelist: Meet with organizations to promote the Chautauqua-Wawasee mission and recruit new supporters.
  • Appreciation/Fun Manager: Plan and implement ways to thank and recognize stakeholders, including attendees, partners, and funders.
  • Board of Directors: Board members are selected from individuals who have volunteered and served on committees.

Interested in Volunteering?

We value your time and commitment, and we want to help you find the right role for you! Whether you want to volunteer for a single event or take on a larger role, we have opportunities for everyone.

For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please contact us at info@chautauquawawasee.org or call Mark at 703-489-7124. We look forward to working with you to make Chautauqua-Wawasee even better!

Note: Training and a Coach will be provided for all volunteer roles to ensure you are supported every step of the way.

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Volunteers Needed for Chautauqua Wawasee Old Fashioned Christmas 2024
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Old Fashioned Christmas Seeking Volunteers!

Old Fashioned Christmas Seeking Volunteers

Chautauqua’s annual Old Fashioned Christmas will return bigger than ever on November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

This extravagant event features Santa, 50-foot tree lighting, musical groups, caroling, live reindeer, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a family photo booth, six live characters such as Frosty, Grinch, Gingerbread Man, all done with the goal of keeping Christ in Christmas with a reading from Luke at the historic chapel, live nativity…and much more! Last
year, more than 1000 people attended this free community event! Read more about it HERE.

Sixty volunteers and performers are needed to make this event the best of its kind in all of northern Indiana.

Due to its growth in 2024, Chautauqua is looking for volunteers who want to join in the fun of putting on this community program. This year’s event starts at 5:30 with Christmas music prior to the tree lighting at 6:00 and ends at 8:00. Help is needed for decorating trees, staffing booths, welcoming guests, handing out free gifts, directing cars for parking and more.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please contact Kip Schumm at 574-518-0678.

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Humble Gumption: Cam Shriver’s Insight on Myaamia Survival and History

Humble Gumption: Cam Shriver’s Insight on Myaamia Survival and History
By: Dave Berry, Chautauqua Wawasee

Survival of the Myaamia-Cam Shriver
On a brisk September morning, about 40 people attended Cam Shriver’s presentation on the survival of the Myaamia people hosted by Chautauqua Wawasee.
Cam is a Senior Research Associate in the Myaamia Center at Miami University (Ohio).
His research focuses on Indigenous history with a particular emphasis on the Myaamia experience of the last four centuries. Cam’s discussion began by establishing the year 1846 as the reference point. 1846 is the year that 350 tribal members were removed from Indiana to Kansas. Part of the discussion focused on the various tactics used successfully by the U.S. government to coerce members of the Myaamia nation into ceding most of their land in Indiana to the United States before and after 1846.

The discussion quickly moved to a series of participant questions about Myaamia farming practices; Miami University’s help in the Miami Tribe’s efforts to re-awaken the dormant Myaamia language; and stories of tribal leaders Peepakicia (Papakeechie), Waawiyaasita (Wawasee) and their descendants.

Given the history of non-Native people pursuing their research detached from living Native Americans, some Myaamia officials have adopted the phrase: “Nothing about us, without us.” In this spirit, Cam summarized his approach to community-engaged scholarship as “humble gumption.” As a non-Myaamia person, he is humble enough to understand that Myaamia leaders have their own priorities, that the nation has limited resources, and that he is only one of many well-meaning people who request Myaamia perspectives. Yet, he still has the gumption to develop long-term relationships that enable him to collaborate and ally with the project of the Myaamia cultural renaissance.

Next year, Chautauqua Wawasee will host Logan York, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, at the WACF Ruddell Pavilion on September 6, 2025.
Cam suggests perusing the Myaamia community blog, Aacimotaatiiyankwi, as a good starting point for learning more about Myaamia history, culture, ecological perspectives, and events: https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/

 

And for those of you who can’t get enough history…

Take a look at this! Our three-day Digging Through History Series starts tomorrow! Get the full details HERE.

 

Digging Through History 2024

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Three-Day Native American “Digging Through History” Program

Annual Three-Day Native American “Digging Through History” Program

Chautauqua-Wawasee and Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum are collaborating to offer the fourth annual series of programs that explore the local history of northeastern Indiana. The series offers three FREE programs, September 12-14. The September 12 and 13 programs are being hosted at the Syracuse Community Center, while the September 14th program will be outdoors at WACF’s Ruddell Pavilion. Each program features presenters with expert knowledge and provides an interactive environment for discussion and hands-on examination of artifacts.

Trevor Tipton presented here in 2021, and returns on Thursday, September 12, to discuss “Tools and Weapons of the Indigenous Peoples.” (6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Syracuse Community Center)

Have you ever wondered how mankind survived thousands of years ago? What animals did they hunt? How did they kill their prey? What tools were used by prehistoric man? This will be the focus of Trevor Tipton’s presentation. His artifact collection, found mostly in Noble County, will be on display. Attendees will be able to handle weapons from centuries ago.

Then, on Friday, Dr. Mark Schurr, a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, will speak on the topic “Archaeology of the French in Northern Indiana – Does it Exist?” (6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Syracuse Community Center)

The first historical record of the French presence in northern Indiana dates to 1679 when Réné Robert Cavalier, Sieur de Lasalle traveled along what is now the St. Joseph River to the Kankakee River using the portage in South Bend. However, the French established only one permanent settlement in the northern
Indiana (Fort Miami in what is now Ft. Wayne). Very little archaeological evidence is available about the French presence in the region. Historic records and a few site investigations show what kind of evidence we should look for if we want to document evidence of French activities in northern Indiana, including in
places like Kosciusko County.

On Saturday, September 14, seven individual activities and experts share information on what life was like back in the 1800s. (10:00 a.m. – Noon, WACF’s Ruddell Pavillion)

These include a demonstration of the Atlatl tool, flint knapping, and presentations by a 1754 French Marine, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Archaeological Division, metal detecting, and others.  With so much to see and do, this Saturday program has been incredibly popular with children and families.

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Survival of the Myaamia People

Due to last year’s overwhelming response, Chautauqua Wawasee is offering a second program to learn more about the Myaamia people and culture.  The Myaamia community is much more than just street names and artifacts. They are a vibrant contemporary people whose history has shaped many of our lives here in Indiana. Historian Cam Shriver will talk about the fight against the Myaamia nation’s removal from their Indiana homelands, and what it was like for the many families who remained in the state.

Shriver, Senior Research Associate in the Myaamia Center, works on Indigenous history, with a particular emphasis on the Myaamia experience of the last four centuries. Most recently, his research has investigated histories of colonial and Native American education and the legal and social history of Myaamia allotments.

Shriver’s scholarly research emerged from ongoing conversations with the community and the Miami Tribe’s Cultural Resources Office. In addition to various courses in early American history, Shriver frequently teaches “Introduction to the Miami Tribe” at Miami University, and he will be sharing his knowledge with us this coming September!

This Saturday program runs from 10:00 am until noon outdoors at WACF’s Ruddell Pavilion south of Syracuse at 11586 N. SR 13.  This is a FREE Event.

WHEN: Sept. 7th – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: WACF Ruddell Pavilion – 11586 N. State Road 13, Syracuse

COST: FREE TO ATTEND!

Follow us on Facebook, or call us at 574-377-7543 for more information! 

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Join us for a Walk Down Memory Lane-2024

Step Back in Time with “A Walk Down Memory Lane”

Chautauqua Wawasee and the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum are teaming up once again to present the second annual “A Walk Down Memory Lane” event. This free program, open to all ages, takes place on July 20th from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at the Oakwood Resort in Syracuse.

The event will feature screenings of historic films showcasing Syracuse and Lake Wawasee, including from the Teetor and Rodabaugh families, among others. These cinematic treasures offer a unique glimpse into the lives and landscapes of yesteryear, showcasing how our area has evolved over time.

In addition to the film screenings, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute their own oral histories. Those unable to share their stories at the event can arrange a separate time with the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum to record their recollections.

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in local history, share your stories, and connect with fellow community members. Mark your calendars for July 20th and join us at the Oakwood Resort for an afternoon of nostalgia, laughter, and discovery.
Remember, admission is free, but the memories you’ll make are priceless!

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Wanted: Old Home Movies from Syracuse-Wawasee for the “Syracuse/Wawasee Walk Down Memory Lane” project.

Wanted: Old Home Movies from Syracuse-Wawasee for the “Syracuse/Wawasee Walk Down Memory Lane” project.

Lights, camera, action! Chautauqua-Wawasee and the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum are teaming up for a blockbuster multi-year project to collect and preserve pre-1975 ephemeral films and home movies of the Syracuse and Wawasee area. The project, titled “Syracuse/Wawasee Walk Down Memory Lane”, is on a mission to track down and immortalize historical footage of our beloved community — but they need your help!

The first phase of the project kicked off in April of last year, culminating in a show-stopping premiere of three historic films from Lake Wawasee on July 22nd at the Syracuse Community Center. The program proved popular enough that the project will continue in 2024.”Since last year, we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of new vintage material,” Ann Garceau, the Syracuse Museum’s project mastermind, noted. “In anticipation of this year’s encore on July 20, we’re putting out an all-call for additional video gems!”A glittering showcase of selected footage is scheduled for this summer’s blockbuster event at Oakwood on July 20. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Syracuse’s cinematic history!

The project is on the hunt for home movies and ephemeral films made locally before 1975 – black and white or color, it doesn’t matter! If you’ve got video materials that could contribute to capturing the Syracuse region’s storied past, give Jamie Clemons a call at 574-457-3599 (Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum), or reach out to Erin Lomax at 574-238-6089 or erin.lomax@gmail.com (Chautauqua-Wawasee).

Let’s make movie magic together!

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