Hobart’s biggest party of the year got underway on Thursday evening, as the city kicked off its annual Lakefront Festival. Featuring a wide array of food, craft vendors, live music, kid-friendly activities, and several returning traditions, the festival is set to run through to Sunday evening.
“It’s probably our most important event just because of the tradition, this is our 32nd year running the event,” said Kelly Goodpaster, director of Hobart Parks & Recreation. “It’s the Hobart event, it’s kind of what started the city’s events and started bringing people together in the community. It’s nice to have seen it grow into what it is.”
Hobart Parks and Recreation set to pack the calendar full of as many activities and live musical performances as it could. AC/DC tribute band Bonfire occupied the Festival Park band shell during Thursday’s festivities, with acts such as the Blooze Brothers, Positive Vibe Technicians, and Nawty all scheduled for sets throughout the weekend.
The festival has battled bad weather luck over the last few years – something they are looking forward to changing this time around.
“Today’s been an excellent day, we had our rain early in the day but there’s nothing else in the forecast for the whole weekend,” Goodpaster said. “We’ve been hit by rain the last couple of years, and this is also the one weekend where it’s not going to be excessively hot and they’re not going to be any rain.”
One other group was happy to see a weekend of good weather where the different vendors lined up throughout Festival Park. Everything from clothes, saltwater taffy, flowers, and fresh honey was on display – with craftspeople eager to showcase their efforts.
“We’ve got people from all over every part of town coming here,” said Chet Gilbert, owner and beekeeper with APIS Enterprises. “I tell stories about my bees, my honey, and experiences I have. A lot of times I’ll get other beekeepers coming by to swap stories. With bees, everyone either loves them or hates them – but they’re always something to talk about!”
The Lakefront Festival also plays host to two of the Hobart community’s more unique traditions. On Saturday, challengers will take on the Dam Duck Tape and Cardboard Regatta, where teams of all ages take boats made of nothing but cardboard and duct tape around a course on Lake George. Then on Sunday, Hobart Parks and Hobart K9 will launch the Dam Duck Race, where hundreds of rubber ducks are released – with the owners of the fastest few winning various prizes. Proceeds from the race are set to benefit the Hobart Humane Society, who were selling entries to the race on Thursday evening.
“We’re a small shelter and wouldn’t be here without the help of the community,” said Tracy Colza, a volunteer with the Hobart Humane Society. “Getting involved in the community with outreach and programs like this is huge in helping us give back too. Everybody’s excited, we’ve had a lot of previous donors and adopters come by. This event is totally awesome, fun for all ages, and gets everybody doing something fun together.”
Other activities include the Silly Safari Kids Show on Saturday, the I Dig Dino Kid’s Zone on Sunday, and a live watch party for the Hobart Brickies Football home opener on Friday.
The Festival opens at 5 p.m. on Friday evening and at 12 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.facebook.com/hobartevents to find the full schedule.