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HAMILTON — Great Miami River Days continues Sunday, Sept. 7, after a wet, wild and educational kickoff.

"You couldn't have better weather," said event organizer Mike Cox on Saturday.

A hot week warmed up the water, a rainy Friday raised the river a couple inches, and skies stayed clear Saturday.

And expressions stayed sunny. The Lomax family from Millville sat on the river's bank watching a daring human pyramid. That was 8-year-old Sydney Lomax's favorite part. Her 12-year-old brother, Jacob, preferred the stunt-filled jet ski show.

The drier attractions also had fans. Eight-year-old Alexis Brown said she liked throwing axes at the Native American exhibit; her 5-year-old brother Triston liked the cannon.

"It's great for the kids. It's a great day out, and you can't ask for anything better right now," said their father, Bruce Brown of Fairfield.

It wasn't all for the kids — Bruce and his father, Lee Brown, were looking forward to the boat races.

And while some were entertained, others were educated. Re-enactors taught attendees about the frontier wars and Civil War with a staged battle. Native American dancers displayed their culture and heritage.

This gave other groups a happily captive audience to learn about the event's star: the Great Miami River.

Some talked about recreational opportunities on the river while others talked about ecological challenges to it. The two messages are intertwined, according to Bob Lentz, stormwater coordinator with the Butler County Stormwater District, who spoke to people about keeping the river clean.

"Once you care about something, you're more likely to protect it," he said.

Brandon Brock, 8, sort of got the point standing in front of a University of Cincinnati aquarium filled with the types of fish that inhabit the river.

"I think the river is important because I want to eat all the fish," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.