ATHOL - For a little fun at a weekend festival, just add water and a dunk tank.

The tank made quite a splash at Athol Daze, which took place all day Saturday in Athol Park. Squealing youngsters waited their turn to dunk or be dunked as they waited in line, many of them spouting encouragement or challenging passersby to throw the softballs at the bullseye.

Twins Martin and Malcolm Rice-Lambott, 10, of Coeur d'Alene sat in the grass by the tank, squishing their wet feet into their shoes. It was a hot afternoon and Martin said the best thing about the day was getting wet.

Gavin Antone, 10, of Coeur d'Alene, said being dunked is kind of a shock.

"The best part was the person pushing the button and the plank going down," he said.

Aside from the excitement of a dunk tank, kids and families enjoyed Saturday's parade, pony rides, live music, a cake walk, a talent show, a petting zoo, making cotton candy from floss sugar, face painting, finding money in the straw, raffles and a silent auction.

Athol is 104 years old this year, and the Athol Daze celebration has been going on for as long as Athol city clerk Sally Hansen can remember.

"It's just really good wholesome family fun," Hansen said. She rode her horse Vegas in the parade and led an empty saddle on horse Luke, in memory of Joreen Bohn, Liz Hasbrouck and Shirley Hyke, three distinguished women of Athol who passed away last year.

Clover Kidz 4-H Club hosted the petting zoo in the park, which included a couple fowls, rabbits and at least one mischievous goat. The club has participated in Athol Daze for four years. Natalie Szakacs, 16, of Athol sat beneath the tent shade while keeping an eye on everyone.

"They're just a lot of fun," she said about raising animals for 4-H. "My favorite part is probably knowing that I'm getting something out of having them and I'm having fun while I'm doing it."

More than 30 vendors provided snacks, crafts and goods, such as redneck wine glasses, huckleberry ice cream, pickled garlic, sprigs of lavender and funny merchandise.

Sisters-in-law Cindy and Linda Peterson of Athol relaxed behind a table lined with Athol Gear products. The T-shirts and mugs poke fun at Athol's name, a long-standing joke at which tourists can't help but snicker and buy the items to take back home.

"They do like to crack the jokes," Cindy said.

"This stuff goes everywhere. It's in Canada, it's in California," Linda added. "Athol is spreading."

The ladies were the builders and first (now former) owners of Athol's Little Town Market, which still sells Athol Gear.

Athol Daze also featured a gyro ride, carnival games and a beer garden where adults could cool their heels while the kids played and had fun in the sun.