As hot weather thrusts Rome into summertime, there’s no better way to cool off than splashing around at this weekend’s Waterfest XII, a two-day paddlesports and environmental educational extravaganza that kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. at Ridge Ferry Park.

The event is organized by Rome-based Coosa River Basin Initiative.

Registration is still open for Friday night’s Kayak Tug-O-Wars for children and adults as well as for Saturday’s 13-mile race on the Oostanaula River and the Canoe Tug-O-Wars.

The registration fee is $5 per person and includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win a new kayak from Blue Sky Outfitter.

Saturday will also feature an all-day environmental fair highlighted by live reptile birds of prey shows at Ridge Ferry Park. The fair will also include a portable aquarium filled with fish from the Oosta­naula River, children’s activities, food and the Environmental Quiz Bowl tournament for elementary area schools. Admission is free.

The Kayak Tug-O-War begins Friday at 5 p.m. with Kayaks tied end-to-end and paddlers in each boat trying to “paddle-pull” their opponent across a pool provided by Johnson Outdoors and Cedar Creek Park in Cave Spring. The competition will include multiple children’s divisions as well as adult divisions and a special parent/child tandem division.

Saturday’s event includes a 13-mile canoe and kayak race on the Oostanaula River, Tug-O-Wars and the Environmental Fair. Complimentary canoes are available.

Some 150 canoeists, kayakers and paddleboarders are expected to participate in the 13-mile race. Registration fees are $50 for solo boats and $60 for tandem boats.

The Canoe Tug-O-Wars pit four-person co-ed teams against one another in a double-elimination tournament. The winner receives a $200 cash prize and gift certificates to area restaurants. A special division for Boy Scout troops is also planned. Registration fees for adult teams are $100, and $20 for Scout troop teams.

For more information, contact CRBI Director Joe Cook 706-232-2724 or email at jcook@coosa.org.