"It's a nice bookend to the summer," visitor Joyce Calhoon said of Bothell's annual RiverFest, this year held Aug. 30.

Indicating her three children, ages 4 to 9, Calhoon added the event provides the youngsters with one last chance to blow off some major steam before heading back to school.

For the ninth annual celebration, officials blocked off much of downtown Bothell's streets, replacing the usual traffic with dozens and dozens of booths and displays. Crafters and artisans showed their wares, the city showed off it services and visitors could even find something to do with their time after the festival while also helping the community at the Hobby and Volunteer Expo.

There also was reportedly plenty to eat, even free fruit kabobs provided for the youngsters by the Yakima Fruit Market. The city capped its centennial celebration by placing a time capsule in a space near the Bothell police headquarters.

Officials expect the capsule to be opened in 2059.

Of course, all the cars didn't disappear from the downtown streets. On Main Street, the Brooks Biddle Chevrolet car show consisted of about 25 vehicles ranging from an Indianapolis 500 pace car to a 1926 Model T Ford.

Checking out a 1955 Crown Victoria, William Conrad, 72, said he once owned a similar car, and needless, to say, he added he wished he still had it.

"Of course, I don't think mine looked as good as this one even when it was brand new," Conrad said nodding to the polished display car.

Wandering the aisles of booths and exhibits, one might have noticed a large lion and an otter making their way through the crowd. The mascots didn't represent any team or club.

"We're just here having a good time," said Bobby Yardon, who was accompanying the over-sized, furry critters.

Yardon added the mascots have visited numerous fairs and events, greeting kids and getting their pictures taken, just for the fun of it.

Over by the corner of 101st Avenue Northeast, RiverFest even offered visitors the chance to learn the basics of juggling. Sponsored partly by the Bothell Parks and Recreation Department, the members of Juggle for Fun meet on a regular basis at the W.A. Anderson Gym, said member and instructor Tom Gaines. He added the group gets together to teach others how to juggle, but also just to have fun showing off their skills and learning new techniques themselves.

"We teach other new tricks all the time," Gaines said.

Further up the road, near the inflatables, Jeremy Bryans, 11, had just finished trying his hand at the rock climbing wall under the watchful eye of mom Christine Bryans. Jeremy didn't quite make it to the top, but didn't seem to mind.

"It's hard, but it's fun," he said as he was taking off his safety harness and already asking his mom if he could try out the nearby inflatable slide.

Back down by the corner of 101st, the city offered two free concerts featuring the Afrodisiacs and the Spazmatics. Carolyn Connors, 68, was dancing in place to the Afrodisiacs, saying she didn't even mind working up a sweat in the hot afternoon sun.

"We'll back to the rain soon enough," she said. "For now, this is just great."

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