Annual Christmas lights party, a time for fellowship

AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS — It was a time of fellowship with old friends and the making of new friends at the annual Christmas lights party.

Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
Staff Writer

The smell of a fire in the fireplace, the sounds of Christmas music and laughter filled the air at the fifth annual Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s Christmas lights party Friday evening, Dec. 6.

Guests gathered in the Ruddell Pavilion on the WACF property, which was decked with holiday lights. A lone evergreen tree stood nearby covered in white lights. Two propane patio heaters and a roaring fire in the fireplace provided warmth in the pavilion for guests to get out of the cold night air and enjoy conversations with old friends and make new friends.

Dave Brandes, former chairman, briefly noted this was the fifth year for the event, which began after an idea of having his wife Susie paint the pavilion with Christmas lights. This prompted the start of “life imitating art” and the annual Christmas lights party.

Those who attended were given the opportunity to speak with Dr. Jerry Sweeten about the Wawasee Inlets Nutrient Study as well as learn more about WACF from board members, or just catch up with life’s happenings.

The evening additionally included an opportunity to enjoy four different chilis and two chicken noodle hot dishes, hot cider, and a variety of sweets.

LIFE IMITATING ART — A painting was done of the Ruddell Pavilion on the property of the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, Syracuse, decked out with Christmas lights. That piece of art resulted in the annual Christmas lights party for WACF. The fifth annual Christmas lights party was Friday night, Dec. 6.