The address on the city flyer was 111 E. Old Ridge Rd., and the time was 2 p.m. on October 13. That was when the City of Hobart broke ground at Festival Park. The city had already warned its regulars that construction fencing could go up around the work areas, and that crews, heavy equipment and changes to the existing landscaping would follow, according to the event notice posted on GreatNews.Life. Three weeks in, the park on Lake George is a work site.
The city's own schedule runs that work from roughly September through June 1, 2027. So the place Hobart uses for its summer markets and its four-day Lakefront Festival is closed through every winter weekend this year. Lake George is still in the middle of town. For the next seven months, though, you'll get to it from somewhere other than Festival Park.
What the Fence Line Covers
The Parks Department calls the project a "complete renovation of the park." It also covers improvements to the Rugby/Soccer field across the street, according to a notice in the Hobart Parks registration catalog.
The Hobart Community Center stays open. That same notice says the building itself won't be affected by construction, though parking and access might be. The building has two entrances, and more street parking is available nearby. The city also says the full construction timeline isn't final yet. Questions go to the Parks Office at 219-942-2987. If you've booked the hall for a holiday party, the room is still there. Arriving and parking might look different.
The finished park will include more than 100 new trees planted throughout the grounds, according to the groundbreaking notice. That notice also included this line for the people who walk the park every day:
"We'll also be sharing alternative parks and walking paths for those who use Festival Park as part of their regular routine."
Until that list comes out, the closest option is already on the map, and it puts you right over the same water.
A Bigger Project Than It Started
The renovation grew before work began. On September 13, 2026, the Hobart City Park Board voted 3–0 to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Build-Operate-Transfer Agreement for Festival Park. The amendment acknowledges that the project will go over its original budget and approves money from the Community Impact Fund to cover the difference, Citizen Portal reported from the meeting. The board voted to move forward with "the larger scope and funding plan."
The construction was shaping the calendar even earlier. The city's 2026 Summer Market vendor application set Thursday markets at Festival Park from June 11 through August 6. It listed the rest of August as "to be determined" because of the construction timeline. This past summer, the Lakefront Festival ran June 4 through 7 at the same 111 E. Old Ridge Road address. The city's approximate finish date of June 1, 2027 lands just before the week the festival took up this year. The city's notice warns, though, that the schedule isn't final.
The Same Lake, From the Trail
The Oak Savannah Trail crosses Lake George. The National Park Service lists it as a paved, wheelchair-accessible route and describes a 4-mile out-and-back between Robinson Lake and Wisconsin Street that goes over the lake. For someone used to looping Festival Park, it's the nearest way to keep the water on a walk while the park is closed.
The Indiana Dunes National Park trail page for Hobart lists two more options that start from the same corridor.
| Route | Length | Where to start | Surface and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Savannah Trail, Robinson Lake to Wisconsin Street | 4 miles out and back | Robinson Lake or Wisconsin Street | Paved, wheelchair accessible, crosses Lake George |
| Hobart Woodland Trail | 2.2 miles | Robinson Lake Park lot, 5227 S. Liverpool Rd. | Reach the trailhead by following the Oak Savannah Trail east for just under half a mile |
| Hobart Prairie Grove | Not listed | Street parking at 851 S. Wisconsin St. | Open daily, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
The two parking spots split the work. Liverpool Road is the start for the woodland loop. Wisconsin Street puts you at the prairie and the western end of the lake crossing. The Park Service posts the Prairie Grove hours, but its page says nothing about winter trail conditions, so check before you go out after a snowfall.
November 28 Is the First Test
The first big public event since the groundbreaking falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The City of Hobart's Christmas Tree Lighting is set for November 28, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. The city's listing with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority says the event "will look a little different this year due to the Festival Park Construction Project." The listing doesn't name a site. Check the city's Christmas Tree Lighting page for the location before you head out.
That Saturday has two parts:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Merry Mini Makers Market runs at the PCC Building. Vendors are chosen by the Hobart Events Market Committee, according to the city's vendor application.
- 5 p.m. The Tree Lighting opens, with Santa taking pictures, children's crafts and photo spots.
- 5:30 p.m. A countdown and the lighting of the city Christmas tree.
That leaves about three hours between the market closing and the tree lighting, which is plenty of time for an early dinner downtown.
Downtown Holds Steady
Downtown isn't affected by the construction. The City of Hobart lists its own address as 414 Main Street. A block over, The Dugout on 4th sits at 438 E. 4th St., across from City Hall. Hobart native Erica McCoy opened it in January 2026, and the city held its ribbon cutting on August 4. The menu is comfort food, with gyros, hot dogs and pizza, GreatNews.Life reported.
The Dugout is a newer business that has only ever known downtown with Festival Park open. This winter it's one of the gathering spots that stays put while the lakefront is rebuilt, a short drive from the Oak Savannah Trail and close to whatever site the city picks for the tree.
The Calendar Between Now and the Finish
Here's the renovation so far, with the dates the city and local reports have published:
- September 13, 2026. The Park Board approves Amendment No. 1 by a 3–0 vote and uses the Community Impact Fund to cover the overrun.
- October 13, 2026. Groundbreaking at 111 E. Old Ridge Rd., 2 p.m.
- November 28, 2026. Merry Mini Makers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tree Lighting from 5 to 7 p.m., with the countdown at 5:30.
- About June 1, 2027. The end of the city's approximate construction window, with more than 100 new trees planted across the park.
The city says the timeline isn't final and that it will share a list of alternative walking paths. Until then, the Robinson Lake Park lot at 5227 S. Liverpool Rd. and the Wisconsin Street parking at 851 S. Wisconsin St. are the two closest places to start a walk along Lake George.
At Favela Homes, we spend every week on renovation schedules, so a seven-month park rebuild with an approved budget amendment is a process we know well. If you live near Festival Park and want to understand what a renovated lakefront could mean for your street once the fences come down, Favela Real Estate can walk you through it. Start with a free home valuation.
