North Bend families strutted their stuff at the city’s Centennial block party held Saturday, June 27.

Party-goers could visit with their neighbors and see booths, businesses and plenty of activity on the two blocks between Ballarat Avenue and Bendigo Boulevard.

Crowd-pleasers included the strength, hamburger-eating and pet contests.

“It’s a carnival atmosphere,” said Glen Derwin, owner of Alpine Fitness in North Bend. He emceed the strongest man contest on Main Street, in which mighty men and women vied to carry or drag heavy objects on a timed course.

The finale, a 400-pound sled, was the heaviest. But by the time finishers got there, they would have moved hundreds if not thousands of pounds of weights, steel and concrete spheres.

The youngest of the two-person teams had a combined age of 33; the oldest had a combined age of 118 years.

“They’re all fit. These guys are all pretty strong,” Derwin said.

Prizes included smoothies and movie tickets.

On the Bendigo stage, competitive eaters “Gorging” Glen Kristiansen, Robert Maxcy, Justin Howard and Rob “The Slob” Bernaught powered through an enormous five-pound cheeseburger from Tweed’s to claim bragging rights. Six teams competed.

Also at Bendigo, pet owners showed off their pooches in the Canine Costume Contest.

Lucy Skylstad, 8, of North Bend, showed off Taz, a rescued pit bull. Both Lucy and Taz were decked out in bright pink, with the dog sporting a pair of pink shades.

“Taz loves to perform, and Lucy does too,” said mom Tracy Skylstad, Lucy’s mother.

“The fashion show was fabulous,” Skykstad added. “It’s inspired my daughter to do more with the dog. She was starting to say she was boring.”

All the people had a great time at the canine events, she said.

“It looked like all the dogs had a good time, too.”