The fliers and advertisements promised big things: “Local arts, crafts and fashion vendors will descend upon K Street, transforming downtown Sacramento into a bustling creative district.”

On Saturday, Sacramento News and Review hosted the inaugural Third Saturday Creative Block Party and nudged K Street in the right direction.

Despite the scorching heat, more than 40 aspiring clothing and jewelry designers, artists and local businesses set up shop along K Street.

“I think it’s wonderful of SN&R to have done this…it brings life to the downtown area. We’re so happy to be here,” said Ginger Wong, president of Transformations Makeup Institute, did makeup, hair and glitter tattoos.

Both aspiring and already-established local clothing and handbag designers like Meshugga Chic Vintage, Deranged Designs, Atelier and Fancy Foury Paws (for the four-legged) showed up and laid out their goods. While most outdoor festivals are cash-only, many of the booths made it convenient for card-holding customers to make purchases.

While the street fair was touted as being focused on primarily fashion and art, other businesses took the opportunity to get some attention as well. A Crocker Art Museum representatives handed out posters and brochures about their upcoming exhibits, and Sacramento-based Green Sol, which bottles water in biodegradable water bottles, helped people cool down with good-for-the-Earth water bottles.

Paul Imagine, widely known throughout Sacramento for his rock poster prints, was on hand to sell his colorful pieces and SN&R proudly displayed its local artist-designed newsstands as part of its “Newsstand Project.”

ICUP Comedy Troupe held an impromptu comedy skit performance in front of Pyramid Alehouse, a lone street performer played guitar and palm reader Linda Austin told fortunes along the closed-down streets.

In the center of all the action, a main stage in front of Temple coffeehouse featured performances by local bands Musical Charis, ZuhG and The Kinetics throughout the day. (link to their MySpace or websites)

“I’m really looking forward to the next one, and I think it will really liven up K Street,” said Sam Baldwin, a Midtown resident.

K Street businesses, which have suffered in the last few years, took advantage of increased foot traffic. The Crest Theatre promoted its current film series, “Trash Film Orgy” with a “Hot Zombie Chicks” table and art gallery Art ten20 opened its doors to anyone who cared to wander inside.

The party continued all the way to the end of K Street, with youth performance groups entertaining diners at Hard Rock Café from 3-6 p.m. on the restaurant's main stage.

There were groups of security guards and police officers on every corner, but they were not needed as the event was a peaceful gathering.

The Corona beer garden, sectioned off in front of Cosmo Cafe, was advertised as part of the “day party” to begin at 3 p.m. but remained desolate until a good couple of hours into the festival. As downtown’s night crowd poured into the Grid, the streets bustled with excitement into the evening.

Social Nightclub held the official after party for the event, which began at 8 p.m. and lasted until 2 a.m. with a discounted $3 cover before 10 p.m. The nightclub enjoyed a busy night and was almost packed to maximum capacity after the street fair ended.

Third Saturday was exactly the breath of fresh air that K Street has been needing. Cheers to Sacramento News and Review for an event well done and a hope for many more Third Saturdays,

Often pictures speak louder than words. Click HERE for pictures by Paula Aguirre from the Third Saturday Creative Block Party.