Fun and sun for all at Block Party

Two perfectly sunny days accompanied the festivities for North Bend’s downtown Block Party last weekend, heating up the pavement, drawing out the participants and, most importantly, warming up the handful of Mount Si High School wrestlers who got assigned to dunk tank duty. A shivering Duncan Harrison announced that his shift was almost up after 8 year-old Ryder Bishop sent him into the water with a splash.

July 22, 2015 2:44 pm
A crowd laughs as an alligator falls asleep too soon during Scott Petersen’s demonstration on how to put an alligator to sleep.
A crowd laughs as an alligator falls asleep too soon during Scott Petersen’s demonstration on how to put an alligator to sleep.

Two perfectly sunny days accompanied the festivities for North Bend’s downtown Block Party last weekend, heating up the pavement, drawing out the participants and, most importantly, warming up the handful of Mount Si High School wrestlers who got assigned to dunk tank duty. A shivering Duncan Harrison announced that his shift was almost up after 8 year-old Ryder Bishop sent him into the water with a splash.

More people, though, were looking for ways to keep cool, and settled down in any shade they could find. The mobile gaming theater offered enough shelter for Poppy Salter and Zeke Haverfield to not only see the game screen but also to dance their hearts out in friendly dance game competition, and the booths lining the streets offered shady respites for party-goers.

At the community stage, the sunshine and heat were welcome for at least one act, the Reptile Man. Scott Petersen entertained, educated, and sometimes startled a large audience with his cold-blooded creatures, most available for petting after the show.

With more sunshine on Sunday, the car people came out to line the streets with a large display of classic and custom cars.

Great weather and a good-sized crowd made for another successful downtown block party.

A view of the 2015 North Bend Block Party from above.


Veronica Perron of Sammamish capped off her Day Out with Thomas with a trip to the Animal Encounters petting zoo.

 

Derek Richmond catches some attention as he rides down North Bend Way on his home-made drift trike.

Vintage bikes hung on display throughout the Block Party Saturday at the North Bend visitors’ center.


Matthias Dickelman, 7, works on his moves at the hoop shoot.


Colin Giddens of North Bend, 14, laughs as he scratches a pig’s belly in the petting zoo.


Bob Huffman of Maple Valley entered “Welcome to my Nightmare,” originally commissioned for Alice Cooper, in Sunday’s car show.


Kids gather around to see and touch a small alligator with the Reptile Man.


Mountain Bike Club coach Johnny Blair and club member Garrett Hawley check in bicycles for the club’s free bike valet service offered at the Block Party.


Camise Gohlke, right, helps her daughter, Crystal, to a drink of water during the cupcake eating contest Saturday afternoon. Gohlke said her family always enters the North Bend eating contests, usually represented by her son or husband, “but they don’t do chocolate cupcakes,” she said. Amber Jordan, center, also asked for a drink.

Torben Deese gets a face full of cupcake from his friend when he is announced the winner of the cupcake eating contest.

John Hope, from Carnation, brought his 1929 Ford A Roadster to the car show. It is a relatively recent buy for him as he has only had it for 4 months. He knows this car’s story and has every receipt in this car’s history.

 

 

 

DMW Martial Arts gave a skills demo during the Block Party events Saturday.

 

Fans grooved to the bands on stage all day.

 

A competitor in the ultimate fitness challenge event, hosted by Mount Si Sports + Fitness Saturday.

Classic cars lined North Bend streets Sunday.