It is with excitement that I am here to announce that the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration in Sacramento is going to happen again. That's right folks, last year we did the undoable. We closed L Street between 16th & 15th for a St. Patrick's day block party like no other. Nearly 7000 people showed up, but it remained a festive and safe community event. We had no incidents, thanks to great security and great people who came to have a good time. This year, we're projecting attendance at 8,000 and I want to get everyone involved. We are working with The Sacramento Press to get the community involved and I'm going to keep everyone posted on the event as it develops right here. So join the conversation, tell me what you think and what you want to see more or less of.

Last year, crowd favorite Tainted Love headlined the street concert, and we have great news: they're confirmed for 2010! They play classic 80s, and trust me, you'll be doing your best moon walk once you're at their show. The Second Stage features traditional Irish dancers and Irish session music. The California Fire Department Pipes and Drums will blow your mind and have you screaming between live bands.

Outdoor concessions will be well stocked. The food tent sells sandwiches, sodas, and brats where all proceeds benefit the Fire Dept.’s Burn Unit. Two outdoor bars, a whiskey tent, and 26 beer taps will keep those beverage lines to a minimum. The 20/30 Club will host a Donation Station selling shirts where the proceeds benefit a local children's cancer center.

All this on the block, plus the entire indoors of de Vere’s Irish Pub make this an event not to miss.

The block party will run from 8am till 2am. L Street will be closed to traffic between 15th and 16th Streets from 9am to 6am the next day. Tickets go on sale in advance on Monday, March 1 and are $20. There will be a limited number of tickets sold.

The Monday (March 15, 2010) prior to the block party event, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, in association with the Keaton Raphael Memorial, will raise funds to support children with cancer and their families. The St. Baldrick’s 2009 event generated more than $80,000 in contributions in Sacramento alone. Volunteers shave their heads in an act of solidarity with children fighting cancer and family and friends give generously - worldwide.  The St. Baldrick's Foundation uses these donations to fund more childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government.

Interested volunteers can participate by building a team or donating at http://www.stbaldricks.org or join my team! I've started a team to try and raise $75,000 and you can join me and the de Vere's crew HERE.

We are happy to be working with The Sacramento Press on the media engagement for 2010. For press or media inquiries, please contact Sonny Mayugba, 916.320.3560, sonny@sacramentopress.com. If you have any questions or ideas about the event, send them to me or add it below in the conversation.

Looking forward to seeing you all there and as the event develops, I'll post it here. Sláinte!