NORTH BEND — Happy almost-your-birthday, North Bend.

This Sunday, you’ll be 105 years old.

With such an occasion at hand, of course July Jubilee planners intend to make the annual three-day birthday bash better than the last. There’ll be a chili cook-off, a car show and disc golf, along with tons of food, a bit of theater and a little dancing. But mixed in with the family fun and free barbecue is a focus on an area that’s taken a lot of blows lately — downtown.

Mayor Rick Wetherell, who will be playing his own part in the event, sees July Jubilee as an opportunity for people to become reacquainted with the city and its downtown. Earlier this month, the appearance of the downtown area was called into question when citizens’ letters complained the city’s entrance seemed shabby.

“If more people to go downtown and see what’s there and see the situation ... perhaps that will result in a change for our downtown corridor,” Wetherell said.

The July Jubilee runs Friday through Sunday with numerous events and a birthday cake to top it off. A number of the activities also are being held at the Pony Village Mall for the first time, he added.

Two new items introduced to this year’s Jubilee that seem to scream downtown are a food and music show — hosted by Sozo Tea & Coffee — and the annual car cruise will begin rolling through the streets of downtown.

“We’re excited because we’re bringing it back to the downtown area,” said Barb Dunham, the July Jubilee coordinator. “There’s more businesses that can benefit from the cruise route being near them.”

Volunteers have put in more than 1,000 hours into planning July Jubilee.

 “Everyone’s put in a lot of hard work and we’re excited for the event to start,” Dunham said.

Although Sozo owners Becky and Bill Richardson didn’t choose the name of their contribution to the July Jubilee, “The Taste of Downtown” is fairly appropriate.

To be stationed in the paved parking lot on the north side of the coffee shop at 1955 Union Ave., The Taste will offer carrot cake and clam chowder samples from Sozo, live music, art and shopping, including produce from vendors who supply the Coos Head Food Store in Downtown. A downtown restaurant or two may also supply samples, Becky Richardson said.

“We’re not going to just focus on Sozo. We are going to talk to people when they come and let them know that there’s a lot of places in downtown to visit,” she said.

She added that she and Bill, a North Bend city councilor, wanted to participate in July Jubilee to share their love of North Bend.  

The event goes from noon to 4 p.m., and will showcase an acoustic guitar player and North Bend jazz combo. Dunham described The Taste as an opportunity for downtown merchants to show off their wares and services.

“They’re rolling with it,” Dunham said earlier this month. “I’m excited because ... the merchants do so much to get those businesses going.”

Two of the buildings chosen to be honored by the Historic Landmark Commission also happen to be in downtown, said commission chairman Dick Wagner. But that’s not that unusual, as many of the historic buildings in North Bend happen to be in that part of town. The selections include The Landmark Church, a former Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church completed in 1910, at 777 Florida Ave., and the International Longshore Warehouse Union Hall on Sheridan Avenue. Built in 1947, the building still is the hiring hall for the ILWU, Wagner said.

Criteria for the selections are how well a building is maintained or whether it has been freshly refurbished. The mayor will present honorary plaques to building owners this Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

One building that’s sure to be on the list for a future July Jubilee honor is the one many consider downtown’s biggest eyesore — the North Bend Hotel. It’s undergoing renovations, Wagner said. With a little time and paint, it too could have a bronze plaque on its side.