WESTBROOK – More than 10,000 people, locals and visitors alike, found ways to beat the heat last weekend at Riverbank Park during Westbrook’s 34th annual Together Days.

The two-day festival offered kayak rides, lemonade and ice cream stands and the opportunity to get splashed from the dunk tank workers, among other activities that helped people cool off – and have a good time.

“It’s been awesome. People are trying to escape the heat a little. The parade route was really packed and everybody is out having a good time,” said Mayor Colleen Hilton, who was selling 50/50 raffle tickets to raise money for the Westbrook-Gorham Chamber of Commerce for next year’s Together Days event.

Last year, the event was rained out, but this year’s event was a success, according to Darryl Wright, who coordinates Together Days for the chamber of commerce. “The crowd was pretty good. It was hot, but it looked like everyone had a good time,” said Wright, who estimated about 10,000 people showed up to the event.

For some, like Jade Ouellette, Together Days was a new experience. Ouellette, 16, was visiting with her father and little sister in Westbrook.

“It reminds me of Funtown. We got dizzy on the swings, but I thought it was fun. If you lean forward and look down it’s fine,” said Ouellette before heading toward the Scrambler with her 8-year-old sister, Alexis Ouellette.

Others attend Together Days yearly. Tug Graffam said he’s lived on Forest Street for 93 years and been coming to the event with his wife, Elsie, since it started in 1979.

“We’ve been coming since the beginning. Our church used to have a stand and we’d come every year. We like the music, we’re music lovers and we love to dance,” said Graffam as he sat watching the first band, the Delta Kings.

Jared Grant, 13, and Demante Loureiro, 13, had the best jobs during the weekend. The two were working as dunkees at the dunk tank, gladly taking a dip in the cold tank water in the sweltering 90-degree-plus weather.

“I play Babe Ruth baseball and so I got to volunteer for this. I’m happy I have this shift. The water is cold,” said Grant. “It gets nerve wracking when people are up at the table and they get the three balls.”

Jake Limanni and Justin Belez, both 19, found another way to beat the heat. The two tried the rental kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, a service that has just been launched. The two said they would be willing to try the activity again, as would Dave Libby of Westbrook, who said he would happily take himself and his 4-year-old out in a kayak again.

“It’s not the first time I’ve been [kayaking], but it’s been a number of years. I had my 4-year-old sitting in my lap and it was fantastic. We were paddling out in this little cove and my daughter said, ‘Turtle,’ and I looked and there was this little painted turtle sunning himself. We sat and watched him for a bit,” Libby said as he headed to watch one of the many musical acts that graced the two stages during the event.

The Sappi stage played host to many bands, including Motor Booty Affair, Rick Charette & The Bubblegum Band, Velourasaurus and Boyz Gone Wild.

Lynda Adams, city clerk, was in charge of the bands and activities, along with her neice, Heather Caston-Talbot.

“It was fun to book the bands,” said Adams. “We wanted a variety of music.”

Adams spent the entire weekend helping keep things running smoothly and didn’t leave until after midnight because she stayed late with her husband, Shawn Adams, and other members of the public services department. including Earl White and Brian Leo, who said the department planned on being there until at least 2 a.m. Sunday morning to clean up the trash littering the ground from the event.

“It’s everywhere. We have trash cans that we empty constantly, but the trash is everywhere,” said Leo.

Councilor Victor Chau, another member of the Together Days committee, said most members worked 17 hours or more on Saturday alone.

While the volunteers were still hard at work late Saturday night, Liz Torrey, Westbrook High School senior and student representative for the City Council, said, for her at least, the event was just memorable.

“I really appreciate the hard work and the volunteers. It was amazingly enjoyable, if not a hot weekend, and the unofficial opening to summer,” said Torrey. “The fireworks were, what I can only describe as epic.”

“It’s always a great time for everybody, just seeing everyone having a great time and Westbrook people getting together is great,” said Councilor Mike Sanphy.

Westbrook community groups turned out in force for the warm and toasty Together Day parade down Main Street to Riverbank Park.