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A rock-climbing wall, moon bounce and smoke from barbeque grills were set against the backdrop of the Anacostia River for Saturday's 12th annual Port Towns Day, when about 3,000 people descended upon Bladensburg Waterfront Park for a day of free entertainment.

The festival's theme, Destination Health, was chosen in part because of a variety of recent health initiatives in the Port Towns, said Adrian Tirtandi, Port Towns Community Development Corporation spokesman. The Port Towns include Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City and Edmonston.

This year, the Port Towns Youth Council started a diabetes awareness and prevention campaign. The Bladensburg Sector Map Amendment, a document guiding future development, included a health and wellness zone to encourage healthy uses of property and Kaiser Permanente, a not-for-profit health organization, which offers health plans, has committed to a 10-year community health program in the Port Towns, which will include advocating for policy changes and health campaigns.

Hyattsville residents Elvis Wint and Amecia Stephens were happy with the focus on healthy lifestyles at this year's festival. Their daughters enjoyed the rock-climbing wall, new to the festival this year, and Wint was pleased that this year there were more frequent boat rides. Trained naturalists offered free, half-hour guided boat ride tours of the Anacostia River to festival attendees.

Wint said he tries to encourage his daughters to eat healthy despite a lack of healthy options in the area.

"It's good, especially for the kids, to have something other than McDonald's," Wint said. "I always tell them they can eat other stuff, like fruits and vegetables."

Local restaurants served as food vendors, and one vendor sold non-fat, low calorie ice cream. Giveaways included reusable tote bags in order to encourage sustainable living.

"The less of the plastic that ends up in the landfills, the better it is for our environment," Tirtandi said.

Bladensburg High School's Krewe of Ambition, a student organization that promotes community involvement through music, education and cultural events, presented a sports-themed fashion show to promote active lifestyles.

Group member Kenneth Samuels, 17, of Bladensburg, said he's performed for the past three years and enjoys the event because it's a chance for residents "to come out and show their community respect. It's good for the kids," he said. "And during the year, people don't think about health and wellness."

The event included two stages featuring musical performances, and after dark, families gathered to watch "Racing Stripes" on an outdoor screen.

Cottage City resident Sonji Russell brought her sister, Tonya Russell, to the event a few years ago, and the family has come every year since in order to celebrate Tonya Russell's son's birthday.

This year, James Russell turned 14. His friends danced on the community stage as a DJ played music and his mother danced along in her seat.

"It's easy. And it's like a big celebration," said Tonya Russell, a Washington, D.C. resident.

"We love it here. It's a good thing, to do stuff like this, to help keep the kids off the streets and bring families together," Sonji Russell said. "They should really do it more often."

E-mail Elahe Izadi at eizadi@gazette.net.