Festival Park, located right on the Lake George lakefront, is one of the busiest parks in the Region every summer as Hobart Events packs the calendar with affairs like their Summer Market and Lakefront Festival. But keeping the park pristine, the water clean, and wildlife happy is a constant effort, so events like Saturday’s WaterFest, make it all possible.
The WaterFest, now in its seventh year, is one of the more unique events Hobart hosts because it is not only a party, but also an educational experience. Aside from the free kayak rentals and shaved ice vendors, environmental agencies, wildlife rescue groups, and natural history organizations all set up in front of the Revelli Bandshell. Kids and families can meet exotic wildlife, and learn about recycling and environmentally themed games complete with prizes..
“This is so important for education,” said Sherryl Doerr, Education and Outreach Facilitator for the Hobart Sanitary and Stormwater District Board and organizer of the WaterFest. “We need to get the message out about why people shouldn’t pollute our waters. Plus it’s a nice family day with lots of learning activities.”
Some families took advantage of the sunny day to canoe and kayak across Lake George, while others settled in around the Revelli Bandshell to tour the booths and enjoy live shows from groups like the Dumpster Drummers, an education performance group from Fort Wayne. They perform live music off of recycling bins and other recyclable materials like coffee jars and water jugs. They also positively impact the community by sharing the importance of recycling. Some families have made it a tradition to experience the event each year.
“I love this city and everyone in it should have an opportunity to come and check out this event,” said Constance Huddlestun, who visits each year with her grandchildren. “There aren’t enough educational events like this. The kids learn from this and will carry it with them when they grow up.”
Animals for Awareness, an animal rescue group out of Illinois, attends the WaterFest each year and brings a number of their rescues along for the ride. A parrot, lizards, snakes, a coatimundi, and even a fennec fox, native to areas like the Sahara, Israel, and the Arabian Desert, greeted event-goers..
“We’re trying to teach people what makes a good pet and what doesn’t,” said Kimberly Schilling, President and Founder of Animals for Awareness. “Most of our animals are owner give-ups, confiscations, or were dropped off at shelters. Our mission is protection through education, so we talk a lot about where our animals came from.”
To learn more about Hobart and their upcoming events, visit www.cityofhobart.org.
