Wild West Women: Ladies’ night to whoop it up a The Oregon Garden

By Linda Whitmore

This year’s Ladies Night Out – themed “Wild West Women” – brings some new features to the party.

“It’s getting bigger every year,” said Stacy Palmer, Silverton Chamber of Commerce executive director, and for this event, “We’ve turned up the fun!”

The Wild West theme allows women to let their hair down or get gussied up. Whether wearing rodeo-queen rhinestones or their most comfortable jeans and western shirt; women can party, shop and generally celebrate the sisterhood of friendships in an evening filled with fun.

It’s the fifth year Silverton Chamber of Commerce has hosted the event for women at The Oregon Garden pavilion. What Palmer calls “our fabulous male servers,” will walk around with trays of  “heavy” hors d’oeuvres and desserts. There will be prize drawings, vendors and demonstrations; and new this year – there will be a fashion show.

“For the past five years, women have been asking for a fashion show,” said Amy White, entertainment coordinator.

Not only can women view the latest styles as models saunter down the runway; they can purchase the clothing – in a range of sizes – right at the event.

Perhaps the biggest change this year is that Ladies Night Out is taking place on a Friday night, so party-goers won’t have to go to work the next day. It also allows time for out-of-town guests to stay at local lodging venues and explore downtown shops and restaurants.

“We can introduce people who are not from the area to the great things of Silverton,” Palmer said.

Ladies Night Out is jam-packed with activities. There will be musical entertainment by Doc Titus and for an extra fee, attendees can even ride the mechanical bull or have their picture taken in the Wild West photo booth.

There will be more than 30 booths featuring jewelry, home and garden décor items, beauty products and services, purses and accessories. “We have new vendors every year. It keeps it fresh,” Palmer said. “This year we have 10 or 11 new vendors.”

Among them are a women’s clinic, Woodburn Company Stores and a stained glass artist.

Also represented will be Seven Brides Brewery, Willamette Valley Vineyards and Naked Winery of Canby (“They’re quite funny,” Palmer said, “They’re kind of a show.”) Everybody gets a shopping bag upon entry, and an Urban Cowgirl cocktail. Also, one can purchase cocktails – with a chance of winning diamonds. On each glass is a numbered charm. During the evening, there will be a drawing for winners of a ½-karat diamond pendant and diamond stud earrings.

Other drawings will be held for prizes from the vendors and the grand prize of a “girlfriends’ getaway” at
The Oregon Garden Resort, including a night’s lodging, breakfast, a bottle of wine, entry to the garden, spa treatments and products for the winner and her friend.

While some aspects of Ladies Night Out are different, “we have not changed the price in all five years,” Palmer said.

Ladies Night Out is a fundraiser for Silverton Chamber of Commerce. Palmer explained that 70 percent of the budget comes from special events throughout the year. “Fundraisers offset operating costs so we can keep our dues low and everybody can participate.”

Ladies Night Out is one of the chamber’s largest events. “It was originally designed to showcase Silverton’s female business owners. It’s grown from there,” she said. Now the event is being marketed in a wider region, bringing visitors from out of town.

“We have really gone above and beyond this year to make our event the best ever,” said Nicole Kay, event chairwoman.