Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) hosted his 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Fete on Friday at the Kena Shriners Temple in Fairfax. The event, which is the largest annual Democratic gathering in Northern Virginia, sparked the 2012 reelection campaign for Connolly.

The fete began in 1995 in Connolly's Fairfax home, but the festivities soon outgrew the venue, and the Kena function hall has been home ever since to hundreds of the party faithful. The menu: Strictly Irish—corned beef, cabbage and potatoes and beer. 

"President Obama, Tim Kaine and I are all on the same ticket," said Connolly as he showed off new campaign bumper stickers to the audience. "This event is my largest fundraiser of the year, and it's a very important one because of my reelection."  

It is not clear how much the Connolly campaign raised. 

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) was also in attendance. 

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