The North Bend Downtown Block Party returns once again for its 11th annual celebration on Satruday, July 20, and fifth annual Legends Car Show on Sunday, July 21. The annual festival is held on North Bend Way from Bendigo Boulevard to Ballarat Avenue from noon to 11 p.m.

The block party brings together residents of North Bend and people from around the Valley to celebrate the city through entertainment, live music, activities, and local food and drinks for the entire family. Live entertainment includes Nick Mardon Trio, Dylan Jakobsen, The Lost Boys, The Hipsters, Iron Dragon, IGNITE Dance & Yoga, Cascade Dance Academy, and Mt Si Wilcats Dance Team.

The beer and wine garden will be located outside Iron Duck starting at noon, featuring Volition Brewing and Sigillio Cellars.

“Over the last 11 years, the Downtown Block Party has grown into a much-anticipated event bringing together hundreds of people from all over the Puget Sound,” Mayor Ken Hearing said. “This year’s Block Party brings a full day of entertainment, shopping with local artists and fun activities for the entire family to enjoy. We are excited to feature a new headliner this year — an 80’s cover band called Iron Dragon. We encourage everyone to come down, support your local businesses and join in the fun.”

Bre Keveren, special events and visitor information center coordinator, said this year organizers are expanding and moving the Kid Zone area to William Henry Taylor Park. Sponsored by Encompass, the Kid Zone will be parallel to North Bend Way. From noon to 5 p.m., families can enjoy a variety of bouncing, sliding, climbing, and playing opportunities. Animal adoption and vendors who specialize in animal education and supplies will also be in the Kid Zone area.

This year’s Block Party will include more vendors. Kevern said more than 85 vendors will set up booths at the Block Party. This year’s Block Party will highlight local merchants, artisans, crafters and other organizations. As for music, the block party will have regional and local musicians. To stay away from competing sound, Kevern said the event will only have one music stage instead of two.

But block parties are more than just food and entertainment. It’s about community connection.

“It’s community. It’s seeing all the people that [you] know and enjoying our festival, and it’s about meeting people you don’t know that are part of our community,” Keveren said. “Community events [like this] help instill the care in community.”

The Block Party fosters community pride and engagement, as well as providing an economic boost to the downtown businesses. The Block Party is also a fundraiser for the North Bend Downtown Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local revitalization and beautification for downtown North Bend.

For more information go online to www.discovernorthbend.com/177/Downtown-Block-Party.

Photo courtesy of Visit North Bend This year, the Block Party will have more than 85 vendors.