It was all about the rides in Port Neches Thursday where the 15^th Annual Riverfest drew hundreds to the midway for a night of thrills.

Whether taking a round and round spin, or dangling upside down, there were as many rides to choose from, as there was fun in Riverfront Park.

“This is my first time to bring my granddaughter, and I’m enjoying it. We’ve done the roller coaster, helicopter ride, the ducks and the slide; she’s keeping me quite busy,” Bill McKey, 60, of Port Neches said of his 2-year-old granddaughter Hadley Harper.

This year’s Riverfest runs through Sunday for a full weekend of family entertainment.

McKey decided to come on out Thursday for an early start.

“This is such a good family oriented event — something for the kids to do and for granddads to do with their granddaughters,” McKey said.

Many there had purchased wristbands, which allowed the wearer to ride as much as they wanted.

“We come every year. We buy the passes so he can rides as much as he wants,” Brandy Block, 43, of Port Neches said of her son 9-year-old Kyle. “It saves money in the long run.”

Block said she and her family have attended the festival since it started 15 years ago, and had a good time every time they came.

Daryle McCauley, 55, of Port Neches and his wife Cheryl, 59; live right around the corner from the festival grounds.

“We just walk over,”Daryle McCauley said while his wife did what she could to slow the couples excited granddaughter.

“Grannie can’t get on that Tilt-A-Whirl again. It made her sick,” Cheryl McCauley said.

“You’ll notice she has the wrist band and not me,” her husband said.

Riverfest continues through the weekend with a full slate of activities ranging from midway rides, to delicious festival food booths, entertainment, arts and crafts booths, tunnel boat races and much more.

Friday, April 29

• 3 to 5:30 p.m. — Powerboat testing
• 5 to 11 p.m. — Mighty Thomas Carnival and vendors open
• 6 p.m. to midnight — Entertainment Complex open
• 7 to 8 p.m. — The O’s, Riverfront Stage
• 8:30 to 10 p.m. — Cory Morrow, Riverfront Stage
• 10:30 p.m. to midnight — Pat Green, Riverfront Stage

E-mail: sherry.koonce

Twitter: sgsturdivant