It was a field day for all ages on Saturday, June 20th, with watermelon seed spitting, ice cream eating contests, flying discs, ball games, a 50-foot parachute, a 30 foot high Art for All mural (made of 2,000 individually painted tiles!), infectious smiles, and a non-stop groove of great tunes and good vibes flowing all over the nation's oldest public park, Boston Common. Over 25,000 people came out to play.

Boston Red Sox Gold Glove third-basemen, 2007 World Series MVP, and all-around good guy Mike Lowell provided a highlight when he played ball with area children and then took on Life is good co-founders Bert and John Jacobs plus local celebrity Mike Adams of WEEI in a Wiffle ball homerun hitting contest. Fox 25s Doug (VB) Goudie did the mound work. An extra round was needed to decide the champ, and in an upset, it was local boy Bert Jacobs prevailing. The fans are already buzzing for a rematch in 2010.

Most importantly, we raised $172,763.87 for the Life is good Kids Foundation! The Foundation will donate every penny to festival beneficiary Project Joy. A big chunk of that fundraising was accomplished by the hundreds who joined our scenic Good Walk for Kids fundraising walk in the morning. We are grateful to them, to our corporate partners, and to the public for its generous donations and purchases at the Festival. And as always, we are blown away by the commitment of our amazing volunteers — 800 this festival — who are truly Ambassadors of Optimism!

Please join us for our remaining festivals this year and help us increase that number. Click here to find a festival date and location near you.

	The Blind Boys of Alabama The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama combine musical passion and talent like very few others. Since coming together in 1939 at Alabama's Talladega Institute for the Blind, The Blind Boys of Alabama have sung a fervent blend of traditional and contemporary Gospel music. Winner of five Grammy Awards and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, The Blind Boys' audience now reflects the group's eclectic, global following, while their repertoire has expanded to embrace secular songs with a strongly spiritual message. The Blind Boys have also performed and recorded with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Randy Travis, Peter Gabriel, Solomon Burke, Lou Reed, Tom Petty, John Fogarty and Ben Harper. http://www.blindboys.com/
	Brett Dennen Rolling Stone named Brett one of its "Top Ten Artists to Watch" last year, and they called it right. He's fresh off a successful 54-city tour (happily backed by Life is good) and riding the success of his latest CD Hope for the Hopeless. He'll join us in Boston from a UK tour with The Fray and a performance at Bonnaroo. His rich voice, gifted songwriting and commitment to positive social change make him a not to be missed performer. Life is good and Brett Dennen are teaming up to help kids in need! http://www.brettdennen.net/
	SteveSongs Family-favorite SteveSongs is the winner of numerous prestigious awards, including two Parents' Choice Gold Awards, an iParenting Media Award, and a Children's Music Web Award. Steve can be seen daily on the PBS Kids preschool destination — the two-hour morning television block and online destination at pbskids.org — as the new music teacher, "Mr. Steve." Steve's live shows rock with guitars, vocal-bass and drums, along with the Sensational Sillies on background vocals. Kids dance, sing and rarely sit still at a SteveSongs concert, leaving parents no choice but to join the fun. http://www.stevesongs.com/
	The Hot Tamale Brass Band The Hot Tamale Brass Band makes you feel like you're down in the Big Easy during a Mardi Gras Parade. With a line-up of 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 saxophones , a sousaphone and 2 drummers. They lay down the real funky feel of Bourbon Street.