Bring on the glitter and sparkles along with your comfortable jeans for this year’s Diamonds and Denim party.

The event, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse — Gainesville, will promote and raise money for the community organization.

"We do a fun run that same week; so for the weekend we raised $35,000," said Dee Dee Mize, director of Prevent Child Abuse — Gainesville, of last year’s event. "That’s a very big success, and we are looking for it to be even larger this year."

This is the second year for Diamonds and Denim and includes a barbecue dinner buffet provided by Shane’s Rib Shack in Dahlonega. The complimentary bar will be provided by Wagon Wheel Package in Gainesville, and the band for the evening is Crib Lizard.

"They played last year, and they are a group of guys that are school teachers out of Alpharetta. And they play ... mostly rock ‘n’ roll but they can play anything," Mize said. "They are high energy and they keep everything really moving well."

A silent auction and raffle will be featured during the night’s activities. Items up for auction include a five-night trip to Destin, Fla.; three days and four nights at a condo in Okaloosa Island, Fla.; a 1950s Gibson Les Paul guitar; paintings from local artists; diamond and sapphire estate jewelry; and golf outings, according to Amy Gaydon, a volunteer with the group.

Prevent Child Abuse — Gainesville is a nonprofit group dedicated to raising awareness about educating and recognizing child abuse and neglect. The agency serves families with newborns to high school-aged children. They provide parenting courses including Positive Parenting, Arriba Hispanic Parenting and Empower Parents.

"The total substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in for 2006 were 630; 522 of that was neglect and whatever the remainder of that is physical abuse," Mize said. The funding for the courses at Prevent Child Abuse — Gainesville is provided in part or whole by the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Following the Saturday night event will be the 5K Run for the Children. The race, along with a 5K walk and fun run, will be March 16 at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

There also will be a golf tournament sponsored by the Hall County Board of Realtors on March 27 at Chicopee Woods Golf Course in Gainesville. For more information, contact Tanya Seabolt at 770-718-5232.