Aug. 10--Charlie, a 7-month-old boxer, may have had the best seat along West Cary Street yesterday. At the least, it was the wettest.

The young yet stocky pooch immersed herself in a small, round swimming pool filled with water during the 26th Carytown Watermelon Festival.

She was doing her best to stay cool from the oppressive heat that beat down on the estimated 100,000 people who traversed a six-block stretch during one of the hottest days of the year. Temperatures reached a high of 97 degrees, with the heat index even higher.

"It's nice they have a pool for her," said Charlie's owner, Ashley Seal of Goochland County, referring to the Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation. "A lot of people have water throughout the festival."

Water and other liquids were available for humans as well, with vendors along the street and the Carytown McDonald's setting coolers and cups in their parking lot. At Cary and McCloy streets, three misting tents were available for people to use to stay cool.

Some people sought shade under the awnings of nearby businesses, while others cooled themselves with small handheld fans. Thom Suddeth, president of the Carytown Merchants Association, said heat didn't affect the turnout as there was a constant flow of people throughout the day.

"It's a family event; you've got a lot of kids, a lot of families. That's the image we want to portray in Carytown," Suddeth said.

Richmond Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel at the first-aid booth said they didn't handle any heat-related injuries. But relief from the hot temperatures may not come until later this week.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the metropolitan Richmond area today from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. as forecasters call for a high near 100 degrees. Tim Gingrich, a meteorologist at the Wakefield office, said the heat index could be about 108 degrees.

Richmond is planning to open cooling shelters today, tomorrow and Wednesday, said Michael Wallace, a city spokesman.

Temperatures will remain in the upper 90s tomorrow with a heat index of 106 degrees, but a chance of thunderstorms beginning Wednesday through the weekend may cause temperatures to cool.

Despite yesterday's heat, festivalgoers enjoyed themselves. A play area for children was set up in the Cary Court parking lot, with moon bounces and other inflatable apparatuses. The festival even featured an appearance by the 2009 National Watermelon Queen, Maggie Bailey of Vincennes, Ind.

A. Ramon Moore and Tori Smith, both of Richmond, sought the comfort of the shade under an awning at Bill's Cleaners as they each ate from their bowls of watermelon. Tasting the watermelon was the first thing they did when they arrived.

"It's very refreshing," Smith said.

Ukrop's Super Markets donated the watermelons, and units of the ACCA Shrine Temple sold bowls of the juicy melon for $1. Proceeds benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children, which provides free medical care to children under the age of 18. Last year, the Shriners netted more than $15,000; an official tally for this year won't be available until later this week.

Shriner Gus Lamond arrived at the festival at 7 a.m., three hours before it was to begin, to help set up the Shriners tents. With a sweat-soaked shirt and towel wrapped around his neck, Lamond took a brief respite in the shade until a forklift came bearing a 10th pallet of watermelons midway through the event, bringing the total amount of watermelons on hand to 450.

Lamond said he doesn't mind battling the heat for a good cause. "For me, the satisfaction is knowing where the money goes," he said. "It's worth being out here in this heat."

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Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.

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