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Gavin Chu, 3, left, his sister Ariel, 7, and cousin Vincy Liu, 3, all of Kingston, look at aquatic insects at a table at Wyoming Valley RiverFest in Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-Barre.

A kayaker approaches the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre.

Dennis Bender of Swiftwater munches on an apple while relaxing on the Susquehanna River shoreline in West Pittston.

Pennsylvania DCNR environmental educator Kathy Kelchner, right, explains how to protect yourself from bees to Damian Alsept, 12, of Kingston.

Singer Kate Hearity of Wilkes-Barre entertains the crowd at Nesbitt Park during Wyoming Valley RiverFest 2015.

Pennsylvania DEP conservation district field representative Shane Kleiner explains how to collect aquatic insects during Wyoming Valley RiverFest on Saturday afternoon.

The West Pittston pit stop proved to be a good location for a bathroom break.

Kayakers make their way along the Susquehanna River toward the Eighth Street Bridge between Wyoming and Jenkins Township.

Andrea Mantione of Plains Township, left, and Darlene Gubino of West Wyoming take a break from kayaking in West Pittston.

Kayakers make their way beneath the Ft. Jenkins Bridge in West Pittston.

Frank Kratz of Tunkhannock and his dog, Kaya, get ready to depart the Harding boat launch.

Janelle Jesikiewicz of Pittston, front, and Ed Janosov of Moosic carry their kayak down the Harding boat launch.

Harding firefighter James Stiles oversees the kayakers at the Susquehanna River boat launch in Harding.

Heidi Willis of Susquehanna Kayaks and Canoes in Falls get her kayaks ready at the boat launch in Harding during Wyoming Valley RiverFest on Saturday morning.

Despite a few setbacks from Mother Nature, it was evident to any who ventured near Nesbitt Park in Wilkes-Barre that RiverFest 2015 was in full swing.

The annual event, now in its 18th year, spans an entire weekend with activities for all ages, aimed at highlighting the Susquehanna River and its surrounding habitat.

“Each year we want it to grow in a new way,” said April Davies, volunteer coordinator for RiverFest and board member of the Riverfront Parks Committee. “We focus on our main mission of environmental education, but make it entertaining and accessible for the community.”

RiverFest 2015 spanned Friday and Saturday, with the Sunday’s dragon boat races being cancelled due to the high river levels and impending inclement weather.

“Safety is one of our main priorities,” Davies said.

Friday night’s events were held at Millennium Circle Portal on the Wilkes-Barre side of the river, and it featured musical performances from acts KRIKI and Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax, as well as food vendors, family fishing, opening ceremonies and other activities.

Saturday’s festivities, held at Nesbitt Park, were even bigger with a showcase of vendors, children’s art and nature programs, pony rides, guided nature hikes, kayaking and live music from Kate Hearity, MIZ and Bret Alexander among many other activities.

“RiverFest started very modestly 18 years ago, with card tables in the park,” said John Maday, executive director of the Riverfront Parks Committee. “Now, look how much it has grown. All of this is because of the volunteers, as well as the great support we receive from the city of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County.

“We view these parks – Millennium Circle, Nesbitt, Kirby – as classrooms to help teach the public about the environment around them. Everything we do, we do it for the community.”

RiverFest featured vendors of all types– from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Business Association to Service Electric and Pennsylvania American Water.

The community came out in force to help support the event.

“I’m here to teach people about the life that lives in the river – crayfish, dragonflies, mayflies,” said Shane Kleiner of state Department of Environmental Protection. “Many kids don’t realize that there are all sizes of living things in the rivers, and here they can see them firsthand.”

RiverFest also helps promote the natural beauty in the area to outsiders as well.

“This festival helps draw tourists from all over – New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia – to our area as a getaway,” said Janet Hall of the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau. “They want to go somewhere less congested, more relaxed. We have that.”

The Riverfront Parks Committee will be hosting the postponed dragon boat races on July 11, and anyone interested in volunteering can contact April Davies at april.davies@icloud.com.