Girls Night Out will bring extended shopping hours, special promotions and door prizes from 18 local businesses to downtown Mineola. The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a grand prize drawing of $100 in boutique vouchers and other vendor-sponsored raffles at La Waffalata at 6:45 p.m. Winners must be present to win.
Shonda Sutton of LW Antiques created Girls Night Out in 2015. Sutton said she envisioned an event that would draw the community downtown and encourage locals to experience the shops in a new way. For Sutton, the event has always been about more than shopping.
“It’s community. It’s building relationships. It’s watching friends fellowship and create lasting connections,” Sutton said.
“We are so fortunate to have such a thriving downtown, and events like this help keep that culture alive.”
Sutton said the partnership with La Waffalata would provide shoppers with a central place to eat during their visit.
“We very much value when merchants and others hold events because it helps attract publicity to our town as a whole,” Doris Newman, Main Street manager, said.
“It is great to see our merchants work together as a team, supportive of each other, as women indulge in browsing, shopping and enjoying themselves in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.”
Donna Hager of Between Friends and Shonda Sutton of LW Antiques are organizing this year’s event. Hager said this is the first Girls Night Out held during the summer and encouraged everyone to save the date for the next event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. Hager also said the “magnitude of prizes” was made possible by the generosity of participating businesses.
“Plan your day,” Hager said. “Include lunch, take your time browsing, and make sure you stay for the drawing. With so many prizes, you’ll want to be present to win.”
Many of the participating businesses will offer special promotions. Shane Maxcy of 17:20 Community Marketplace is featuring a Christmas in July sale.
Becky Osborne, owner of The Page Turner, said The Page Turner and Harvest Moon will introduce their “Wheel of Fun,” where every purchase gets a spin.
Everlee Jane will combine its annual Teachers Night Out with Girls Night Out and will offer snacks and drinks, a gift for the first 24 teachers with a school ID, scratch-off cards at checkout and one raffle entry per purchase toward the Girls Night Out raffle basket.
Laurel and Grace, opening Tuesday at 107 E. Commerce, will participate in its first Girls Night Out.
Additional information, including participating businesses, is available on the event’s social media pages.