Down the rabbit hole: Magical adventure planned for Ladies Night Out

By Aurora Ellison

A magical evening awaits women from 21 to 101. All they need is a ticket and a sense of adventure to “Spring into Wonderland.”

The Ladies Night Out committee of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce has once again designed an extravagant and delightful evening for women who are invited to take a trip down the rabbit hole and see where it leads.

The event is Friday, April 8, 7-10 p.m. at the Oregon Garden Pavilion. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Proceeds go toward the general fund of Silverton Chamber of Commerce, which advocates for local businesses, promotes the community and offers marketing and networking resources to chamber members.

Chamber Executive Director Stacy Palmer said Ladies Night Out is the largest of several fundraisers the chamber hosts. Membership fees alone don’t support the chamber.

“Throughout the year we raise about 70 percent of our operating budget” by fundraising, Palmer said. “We have one of the lowest membership fees in the state.”

Palmer said they want to keep membership affordable for small businesses and serve as many local businesses as possible. The difference is made up by events such as Ladies Night Out, which takes nine months of planning and the volunteer efforts of many chamber members.

Although Ladies Night Out is for women 21 and older, Palmer said, “We get a lot of our male board members and volunteers to donate their time and energy. This year we wrangled everybody into getting their food handler’s license to cut costs. Otherwise we’d be paying thousands to have a catering staff come in.”

The Ladies Night Out committee tries to top the previous theme each year. Last year’s western theme featured a mechanical bull, but Palmer thinks this year’s evening will be just as impressive with giant flowers and mushrooms.

“Amy White of 3 Stems Flowers is doing our décor, it’s over-the-top fabulous,” Palmer said.

Along with the Wonderland theme, attendees may enjoy a round of flamingo croquet, “queen for a day” pampering and posing in costume at In the Spotlight Photography. There will be music and other entertainment, two fashion shows, prizes, appetizers, desserts, spirits, and a variety of vendors.

Palmer said last year more than 300 tickets were sold, with attendees coming from as far away as Vancouver and Eugene.

Although there’s no dress code for Ladies Night Out, Palmer said Wonderland costumes are welcome.

“There’s definitely going to be a white rabbit running around,” she said.

And, he’s looking for Alice or the Queen of Hearts.