After the City of Kenmore incorporated in 1998, the city’s first job was to create a central community space, City Manager Rob Karlinsey said.

“Job number one: Let’s stop being a pass-through community. Let’s create a downtown,” he said.

Now, after nearly 20 years, that dream is coming to fruition.

This Saturday marks the grand opening of the city’s Town Square and community building, called the Hangar, at the #WhyILoveKenmore Summer Party from 5-9 p.m.

In all, it cost $4.5 million to construct the city’s Town Square and Hangar community building.

The celebration will be located in Town Square at 6728 Northeast 181st Street, in the heart of downtown.

Festivities will close Northeast 181st Street between 67th and 68th avenues northeast. This segment of the road will close between 2:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday to accommodate family friendly activities, games and vendors. As such, there will be no street parking between 67th Avenue Northeast and 68th Avenue Northeast on Northeast 181st Street starting Friday.

There will be ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.

The event features musical guests Gaby Borromeo and Marina and the Dreamboats.

There will also be family friendly events like bouncy houses, chalk art, touch-a-truck, crafts and games.

A beer garden will feature Kenmore’s breweries 192 Brewing Co, Cairn Brewing and Nine Yards Brewing.

Food vendors include Alaskan Dumplings, Delicately Sweet Confections, Macho Burgers, The Nutty Ice Haus and Yummy Box.

The 4,700-square-foot Hangar building serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors. Diva Espresso, a Seattle coffee shop, will celebrate its newest location in the Hangar Saturday.

The Town Square is an outdoor space with a water feature. It has already become the home to Pianos in the Park and summer movies.

This is the latest development the City of Kenmore has made toward its economic development plan and creating a downtown.

For more on what’s next for Kenmore’s downtown, visit www.kenmorewa.gov/downtown.

#WhyILoveKenmore developed from the For the Love of Kenmore workshop in 2015.