“It’s kind of like our birthday party,” East Lansing Recreations Coordinator Jim Jennings said.

East Lansing Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Tim McCaffrey said the event is meant to show appreciation to the community.

“We try to create an opportunity to (tell) the community thank you for participating in the year-to-year fun at the Family Aquatic Center,” he said.

Patrons were invited to participate in a number of activities coordinated by the aquatic center staff, including a limbo competition, sand castle building contest and candy guessing jars. Other attractions included raffles for prizes, a disc jockey and free snacks, although Jennings said the biggest draws were the belly flop and cannonball contests.

“By far they are the most important (and) most viewed attractions,” he said.

Jennings said the park usually sees more than 600 visitors a day, but the change in weather, along with a half-hour long weather delay due to thunder, likely caused fewer people to come out. He estimated about 300 visitors attended this year’s Summer Splash.

“Unfortunately, when you get rain, people tend to go home, but you’re going to be swimming, so you’ll get wet anyways,” he said. “Everyone that chose to brave the weather still had a good time.”

Williamston, Mich., mother Nancy Sting Andrews shared Jennings’ sentiment, opting to withstand the rain with her sons Zachary, 9, and Jacob, 6.

“The reality is … as long as it’s not dangerous, they can play in the rain,” she said.

Twin brothers Alec and Gage Davis, 15, also decided to weather the rain. The pair are visiting the area from Driggs, Idaho, and said the event was worth sticking around for after the delay.

When asked about their favorite attraction at Summer Splash, the boys responded in unison.

“(The) diving board,” they said.

Jennings said despite the unfortunate weather situation, the response from those who attended largely was positive.

“To come out to the pool, hear the music and play games in the morning, the patrons really like that,” he said.