Janet Lainer calls herself a “Riverfest junkie.”

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        The College Hill mother says she's hooked on the food, fun and intense emotion generated by the hundreds of thousands of people she joins each year on the banks of the Ohio River to take in the sights and sounds of the end-of-summer festival - including the breathtaking fireworks show.

        Sunday's Third Federal Riverfest and 26th annual Toyota/WEBN Fireworks show was no exception for the 36-year-old mom and her two daughters, Megan, 4, and Amy, 6.

        They arrived early, as usual, perched themselves on a grassy hillock at Sawyer Point, and sipped frozen lemonades from a nearby vendor.

        “I love this,” Ms. Lainer said as she wrapped her arms around Megan. “Look at all these people, getting along, having a good time. It makes you wonder why it can't be like this all the time.”

        Ms. Lainer said she finds herself asking such poignant questions more often in the wake of the tragedies of Sept. 11. As the anniversary of the attacks approaches this month, Ms. Lainer said festivals like Riverfest represent more of a celebration of life for her, rather than pure fun and frivolity.

        Sept. 11 remembrances and patriotism were an integral part of this year's Riverfest, from Marine Corps recruiters pumping up passers-by with a chin-up contest at Sawyer Point to a moment of silence for the victims of the attacks before the fireworks show itself.

        It was a 7,300-effect show that lit up the sky 31 minutes and 30 seconds, beginning at 9:05 p.m., and it included numerous patriotic passages.

        The show shot off from four locations - two barges and the Taylor-Southgate and L&N bridges - and was seen from the riverbanks in Newport, Covington and Cincinnati, as well as from hillsides and high-rises across town.

        Jessica Hargis, 16, from Owensville, Ohio, said she saw the fireworks as a symbol of unity and patriotism.

        “This is probably one of the best shows I've been too so far,” she said. “What better way to bring a bunch of people together to show that people can get along after all that's happened.”

        In addition to the fireworks, the after-effects of the most devastating day in modern U.S. history were clearly on display.

        Riverfest workers thoroughly inspected backpacks and similar items. No umbrellas, glass or metal containers or the like were allowed at the event.

        And while the number of uniformed and plain-clothed Cincinnati police officers on patrol was roughly the same as at last year's event, police and fire officials said they were more keenly aware of the potential for disaster.

        “We've always been concerned about the potential for mass casualties with a crowd this size, and we have a plan in place in case something happens,” said District Fire Chief Denny Clark, who was on hand at Riverfest with his emergency medical services team. “But we think about Sept. 11 every day, and everyone's awareness that there is a real potential that something could happen is greater.”

        Some 500,000 people, about the same as last year, were expected to attend the event this year.

        Just after the show ended, a young man apparently jumped or fell from the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge onto concrete or grass below and was taken away by ambulance, witnesses said. Authorities did not release his name or condition late Sunday night.

        During Riverfest, Cincinnati police reported about 15 arrests for minor incidents like alcohol violations, plus routine cases of dehydration and heat-related conditions.

        Covington resident Damon Downey, 30, said he was glad to see the paramedics, police and firefighters roaming the grounds.

        He, too, finds himself reliving the events of Sept. 11 and asking himself if it could happen again.

        But Mr. Downey, who strolled through the Riverfest crowd with his 4-year-old daughter, Destiny, perched on his shoulders, said that while Sept. 11 may have changed the way he looks at life, it won't stop him from living life to its fullest.

        “You always think about it, but I'm not letting it spoil my good time here,” he said.

        Enquirer reporters Erica Solvig and Kristina Goetz contributed.

        Riverfest photo gallery

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