POCAHONTAS – Courtney Orwig, 12, of Pocahontas was one of dozens of children who got cooled off, and drenched, Saturday afternoon as they played in a sprinkler-like water wall set up by the Pocahontas Fire Department during the annual Heritage Days celebration.

Of course, she didn’t just run through it, she leapt.

“I like jumping through the part that launches you,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Orwig had watched the parade; she said it was a pretty good event for filling her bag, and tummy, with candy.

“It’s almost gone through,” she said.

The many fire trucks in the parade made her day.

“We got to see all the fire departments,” she said.

Will playing in the water from their truck or watching them in the parade influence her future career choices?

“No,” she said. “I want to be a professional gamer.”

Bryce Bruggeman, 14, of Gilbert, was taking part in the bean bag tossing competition set up in the street.

His team was doing well.

“We’re ahead,” he said.

While the game may look simple, Bruggeman said it’s a bit harder than it looks.

“It is,” he said. “It is.”

Being in the parade was the highlight of his day.

“The best part was probably the parade and riding in my grandpa’s 1965 Barracuda,” he said.

Pocahontas firefighter Tyler Sandvig took advantage of the opportunity to spray his fellow firefighters with a hose – unfortunately, his opponent soaked him first.

“I lost,” he said. “I’m drenched, I wasn’t planning ahead.”

While participating in the parade, he said they resisted the temptation to spray people along the route.

“We did not,” he said. “Hopefully we get our chance now.”

His fellow firefighter Brody Vader remembered the most important thing to do before getting into a water fight – he removed his phone and other easily damaged by water goods from his pockets.

His secret to winning a water fight?

“Open it up and hang on,” he said. “You just have to hope you get the other guy first.”

Leonard Olson, of Pocahontas, was this year’s grand marshal for the parade.

“It was quite an honor,” he said. “I love this town, there’s a lot of life here.”

He also hosted an event in his shop, the Kaleidoscope Factory, where participants could marble-dye silk scarves. It proved popular.

“I prepped it for a dozen,” he said. “They’re all gone.”

His busy day left him exhausted.

“I had a lot to do today,” he joked. “I need a really long nap.”

Other Heritage Days events included a bed race, 5K race, farmers market and the seventh annual Rubber Duck Race.