Chautauqua Wawasee: Where Tradition, Art, and Community Meet

At the heart of the Syracuse-Wawasee community, something special happens when people come together to learn, celebrate, and connect. Thanks in part to a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation, Oakwood Foundation Chautauqua Wawasee created another unforgettable season of life-enriching programs that brought generations together through art, history, culture, and shared tradition.

Thousands gathered along the lakeshore for the beloved Taps Across the Water at Dusk, where music across the water has become such a treasured tradition that returning college students now ask, “When is Taps this year?” The Wawasee Fine Arts Festival welcomed artists and families from across the region, while the Pawasee Dog Parade raised $4,400 for New Hope Pet Rescue, turning community celebration into meaningful impact.

One attendee captured it best: “Nobody does for the community what you guys do.”

These programs create belonging, spark curiosity, preserve local heritage, and remind us that the strongest communities are built through shared experiences that enrich the lives of everyone who calls this place home.

Community Funds are started by people who care about our community and want to make a difference. Donations to the fund are invested, and each year the Community Foundation Grant Committee and Board use the funds to award grants to local nonprofits to support key community needs as they arise.