The Aug. 9 sun shone bright and hot for families arriving at Boothbay Railway Village Museum for the annual Children's Day.

Parents, and kids in bright bathing suits and trunks, stopped to meet a famous Eastern screech owl, Willow L. Moon, at the Pollination Station table. Also at the Station, Monarch butterflies were in various stages of freedom from their chrysalis. Some were hanging upside down to move fluid from their stomachs to their wings.  A few of the butterflies were outside the habitat tent drying their wings. 

After the stop at Pollination Station, most kids were making a beeline for the huge water slide. Eventually, kids ended up with a signature slide, on their side or stomach, lying down, or just sitting up. Parents around the bottom of the ride enjoyed a splash of water after each child's landing. 

The Bouncy House was never never empty and was visited more than once by families. 

The barrel and steam trains chugged, and the barrel train provided extra fun for the younger set. The swings near the old schoolhouse were almost always in motion, and the Village goats were enjoying kibble and pats. 

Attendance hit the 500 mark. To help beat the heat, most everyone stopped by Nate and Ollie's rolled ice cream truck out of Unity. 

And then there was The Ugly Dumpling truck from Wilton. The truck had noodle selections, large dumplings, ramen, wonton nachos, and steak bowls. 

Said Marketing Director Lori Reynolds, "The heat certainly didn't spoil the fun! The mood was happy and light; and many families spent the whole day."

Reynolds noted Children's Day was one of the Village's most popular events along with the Fall Foliage Festival, Family Harvest Day, Railway Spectacular, and The Polar Express. While the topic was the Railway's events, Reynolds added, "This day was for the kiddos, but our next event is for mom and dad: "Cocktails and Chrome  on Aug. 29."