Five mayors will gather to party with the public at the North County Mayors' Ball Saturday, May 17, at the Santa Ynez Marriott Hotel in Buellton.

This is the second time for this fund-raiser, called “A Plain & Fancy Affair,” which will honor the five mayors of North County communities: Mayor Russ Hicks of Buellton, Mayor Lupe Alvarez of Guadalupe, Mayor Dick DeWees of Lompoc, Mayor Larry Lavagnino of Santa Maria, and Mayor Linda Jackson of Solvang.

“Plain & Fancy” means participants can wear anything from black tie or formal dress to blue jeans and boots.

Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a VIP reception, with a chance to meet the mayors and special guests, North County Supervisors Brooks Firestone, Joni Gray and Joseph Centeno.

Dinner, which takes place at 6:45 p.m., will include a choice of grilled tri-tip, feta spinach salmon or vegetarian lasagna. The fundraising game “Heads and Tails” will take place during dinner.

Instead of a live or silent auction, participants pay $10 to play. The

emcee, Jim Glines, will ask everyone to put their hands on their head or tail. He'll flip a coin, and if the tail is heads, everyone with their hands on their heads gets to stay in the game. He'll keep calling heads or tails until there's one person left.

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The prizes for the game include a wine cooler filled with premium wines from Northern Santa Barbara County; a package of restaurant certificates, including New West Catering in Santa Ynez, which will prepare a dinner for 15 people at the winner's house; and an entertainment package that includes a chance to see a taping of “Dr. Phil,” with VIP parking and seating.

“It's just a fun way to do an event, because so many people do the silent and live auctions, and you just go from one to the next one,” said Raynette Cornejo, development officer for the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way. “It's just unique. We did it first last year, and everyone went away saying they just had a good time.”

After dinner, dancing under a tent will be available outside from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Deejay Jay Turner will play a variety of music, from rock to blues to jazz.

The event raises money for the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way. Last year's event raised $42,000.

Businesses can still sponsor tables for $1,000 a table.

In the future, the event may take place in Santa Maria or Lompoc, Cornejo said.

Individual tickets to attend cost $100. For more information regarding tickets, sponsorships and donations, call Raynette Cornejo, Resource Development Officer, at 922-0329, or e-mail raynette@uwcentralcoast.org.