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Larry “the Hat” Lautzker created the Mill Valley Community Block Party 22 years ago as a grand opening celebration for his Famous4 downtown clothing shop in downtown. The longtime music promoter continues to wrangle some of the best local musicians around for the annual event, this time lining up Soul Ska and the Flaming O’s, along with “lotsa special guests,” including Tim Hockenberry, Tal Morris, Angeline Saris and Gary Novak.

The event, set for Sunday, Sept. 29 (1-5:30pm), takes over Throckmorton Avenue downtown between Bernard Street and Corte Madera Avenue. It benefits Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation that raises upwards of $3 million annually for programs and teachers in the arts, elementary physical education, classroom and library aides, technology and innovative teaching grants from transitional kindergarten through 8th grade in the Mill Valley School District.

It also features a fashion show showcasing clothing from some of the top boutiques in town, as well as food, a beer garden, a bigger and better Kidz Zone from Steve & Kate’s Camp and Camp Funderblast, as well as face painting and plenty of food.

“I had a dream 22 years ago,” Lautzker says. “There was a BIG Party in front of my shop. There was a stage built in the middle of the street, all my friends, their friends and friends of their friends dancing, mingling and kids….so many kids, came. In my dream there was a Kids Zone with Jumpy’s and games. Then I saw the Beer Garden with great local brewers and delicious food with folks drinking and munching. Years later I had another dream about the Block Party and in it was a Fashion Show with our friends and clients as models wearing outfits from our amazing Mill Valley shops walking a runway. In my dream the Block Party was also a fundraiser. So here we are again, 22 years since my dream became a reality.”

The 411: The Mill Valley Community Block Party is Sunday September 29, 1-5:30pm at Lytton Square, 96 Throckmorton Ave. Mill Valley. MORE INFO.

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