It’s time again for Renton’s big celebration; Renton River Days is back.

The 29th annual multi-day family festival kicks off Friday, July 25 in Liberty Park.

“Our teams are ready and we’re excited for this weekend!” said Sonja Mejlaender, Community Relations and Events coordinator with the City of Renton.

This year’s theme is “Shake, Waddle and Roll!”

The community festival features events for kids, arts and crafts, recreation, food and stage entertainment in Liberty and Cedar River Park. There will be community information booths and the Nibble of Renton, featuring local restaurants.

And though there is presently construction going on at the downtown library, contractors have agreed to re-open the library’s pedestrian bridge for the festival weekend, allowing visitors to park in the 200 Mill Avenue lot and cross at the library to get to the park.

Things got started already this week with a golf tournament and the annual Senior Day on Thursday – and of course the “specquackular” window displays downtown, but the full festival really gets rolling today when the gates open.

Even before the main festival, the annual Renton Art Show opens its doors at 10 a.m. Friday at the Renton Community Center. There will be a live and juried art show with works available for sale. The show runs through the weekend.

At 11 a.m. River Days officially begins as the Art Market at Gianini Stadium at Liberty Park opens with about 80 booths, as does the Nibble of Renton, with foods from local restaurants and caterers.

According to Mejlaender, this year’s lineup of 12 food vendors is the most ever for the festival.

“There’s lots of variety for folks to come down to the park and enjoy,” she said.

Mejlaender also said this year’s stage lineup is “the most diverse lineup ever” with more than 400 performers in about 50 groups gracing the festival’s two stages.

The Wenatchee Youth Circus also returns this year with a pair of shows on Friday at 1:30 and 6 p.m. at Cedar River Park, over by the Henry Moses Aquatic Center. The circus will also perform at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets to the performance are $2 for adults and $1 for kids under 18.

Finally, Friday night winds down with a showing of 2013’s blockbuster “Marvel’s The Avengers” on a large screen at Piazza Park in downtown Renton. Seating begins at 7 and the movie is scheduled to start at 7:45 p.m., rain or shine. Superhero costumes are encouraged.

Saturday gets started with the annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Renton Senior Activity Center. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and children under 12.

As always the parade is Saturday’s big attraction. Beginning at 10 a.m., the annual parade welcomes the return of Kent Phillips, of STAR 101.5, as parade announcer. Parade entries promise to be creative and uniquely decorated and some incorporate music. Drill teams, dancers, marching bands, clowns, horses and one-of-a-kind cars are all lined up for this year’s fun.

All of downtown Renton will be primed and ready for the celebration with window displays in shops in the heart of the city and a sidewalk sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday also brings us the 16th annual Cedar River Quilters exhibition from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Renton Community Center.

Also on Saturday is the 18th annual Chalk Art Competition at the Liberty Park tennis courts. Registration starts at noon and there are awards for artists. Ages 13-adult, ages 10-12, People’s Choice and Best Theme will be presented at 4 p.m. All children will receive a prize.

Sunday brings a display of plug-in and electric vehicles from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a gathering of BMW’s at Cedar River Park.

And, of course, it all culminates in the Rubber Ducky Derby, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Houser Street Bridge. Thousand of little yellow quackers will race down the river for valuable prizes. This event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Renton.

Throughout the festival, there will be a non-stop shuttle running from Renton Memorial Stadium on Logan Avenue to the park. The shuttle will be free.

Renton River Days also hosts tennis and golf tournaments and free fun for kids, all paid for by sponsors.

For more information, visit www.rentonriverdays.org.

Additional reporting by Brian Beckley.