In the words of the great Shania Twain, let’s go girls! It’s time to grab your crown and head to downtown Millbrook for the annual Ladies’ Night on Thursday (August 3). King Street is already well on its way to being transformed into a celebration of women for the fun-filled event hosted by the Millbrook Business Improvement Area (BIA).
First held in 2004, Ladies’ Night is one of the Millbrook BIA’s longest-running and most anticipated events of the year. After two years of pandemic restrictions stopping all festivities and last year’s extravaganza being held on a Sunday afternoon, the event is back where it belongs — on a Thursday evening — and, according to Millbrook BIA’s treasurer and the event’s organizer Sherri Soucie, it’s “better than ever.”
“It’s always been geared towards letting the ladies have a night out by leaving the kids at home, leaving the husbands, and getting out to socialize and unwind,” Soucie explains. “It gives women a chance to socialize with other women from town who they wouldn’t have a chance to meet otherwise because of their daily lives.”
From 4 to 9 p.m., King Street in downtown Millbrook will be closed to make space for the stage, chairs, and vendor tables at the event. Though Ladies’ Night will commence at 4 p.m. with live music and events, Cavan Monaghan Township Mayor Matthew Graham will make opening remarks onstage at 6 p.m., where he will introduce the new board members of the Millbrook BIA.
Continuing until 9 p.m., the event also includes a fashion show, line dancing, and karaoke, while vendors, personal services, and food and beverage establishments will be accessible throughout the entire evening.
“We want Millbrook BIA members to know that we are there to support them,” Soucie says. “Our goal is not only help the members by hosting these events, but to encourage people to support our local businesses too.”
To further encourage women to attend, Ladies’ Night will also include a chance to win two “Diva baskets”, one for a pampered day with personal services and the other filled with goodies donated by local retailers and vendors, with every purchase getting you a ballot for the basket of your choice.
You can find the Diva baskets and ballots at the Millbrook BIA table located by the stage. At their table, the Millbrook BIA will also be giving out 50 reusable shopping bags with coupons and promos from local vendors and stores.
There will also be draws for Millbrook BIA bucks (that can be redeemed at downtown shops) as well as other items hourly. Home Hardware will also be handing out promo items. Donations will be collected and distributed to local non-profit groups in the community.
To get you in the right spirit, a committee of women have already started decorating the downtown strip, adding flowers to lampposts and installing stunning new planters on the bridges. Luminous Expressions will be adding their personal touches to the event to give it some sparkle.
So, ladies, leave the partners and kids at home, and follow these fun steps to fully unwind at Ladies’ Night in downtown Millbrook.
Get pampered
Ladies’ Night wouldn’t be the same without some “me time” spent getting pampered.
Get either a 10-minute ($20) or 15-minute ($30) massage from RMT Erin O’Ray or 15 minutes of reiki ($10) from Patti of Body & Soul Wellness. Marianna from Vivacious Beauty will also be downtown, offering brow tint and facial waxing ($10), hydra facial ($20), and henna brows ($40) for interested women.
For something a bit different, a 15-minute reading from medium Deb Stantion is available for $30, and a 15-minute reading from psychic Flo Burton is available at the same cost.
Each service is offered on a first-come first-served basis out of bridal shop Menzie’s House (30 King St. E.). Guest are encouraged to book their appointments early, and the enjoy Ladies’ Night events while waiting for their appointments.
You can also drop by Blank Canvas Hair & Art Studio (12 King St. E.) if you would like to have a professional photo by local photographer Peter Marcelli. Donations are welcome.
Let loose on stage
Start warming up your singing voice, because this year’s Ladies’ Night includes karaoke!
Doug MacKenzie will warm up the crowd from 4 to 6 p.m. with original tunes and classic folk, rock, country, and pop songs from the 60s until now.
Then he’ll pass the microphone to emcee and DJ Mike Pantalleresco from ProSound Productions for some karaoke fun.
“We encourage everyone to go up, be funny, and just show yourself,” says Soucie.
Eat and drink to your heart’s content
Endless food options will be available for those in attendance at Ladies’ Night, ranging from comfort foods on the outdoor partio at the Millbrook Legion (9 King St. E.) to hefty charcuterie boards from Millbrook Mercantile (28 King St. E.). The Lions Club will also have a food truck at the event.
Just around the corner from King Street, Moody’s Bar & Grill (3 Tupper St.) and Millbrook Pizza (13 Tupper St.) will also be open to welcome the swarm of Ladies’ Night visitors. Licensed establishments will be serving up beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
For after-dinner snacks, Pastry Peddler (17 King St. E.) and Millbrook Valley Chocolates (32 King St. E.) are both sweet-tooth satisfiers, and a must for any girls’ night out.
Shop ’til you drop
From homeware to fashion to antiques and gifts, there is no shortage of places to shop on King Street.
Alongside the local brick-and-mortar shopping opportunities presented in the downtown core, like Exit 38 (38 King St. E.), The Village Apothecary (36 King St. E.), and The Joneses Store (15 King St. E.), there will be more than 30 vendors setting up tables downtown to provide even more opportunity to find exactly what you’re looking for — and the things you don’t need as well.
Vendors include Pillow Talk, Lex Wall Décor, Cove Antiques & Art, Millbrook Winery, Lasting Impressions, Crazy Water Girls, Thirty One, and plenty more. Note that many vendors are cash only (there is a TD bank machine in Millbrook Foodland at 6 Centre St.).
“We’re really trying to encourage shopping local,” Soucie explains. “We want people together again and enjoying our local retailers.”
Strut your stuff
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of the annual Ladies’ Night is the fashion show, where models of every age, shape, and size strut their stuff on stage.
The models will get dressed up by local clothing store Exit 38, with make-up done by Blank Canvas Hair & Art Studio (12 King St. E.).
At 7 p.m., following the fashion show, the street will be turned into a party zone as line dancing begins, hosted by Community Cares and featuring the Millbrook Country Gals Line Dancers, who will be encouraging anyone who wants to participate to learn a couple of steps and join in.
For more information on the Millbrook BIA and Ladies’ Night, visit millbrookbia.com and check for event updates at facebook.com/MillbrookBIA/.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Millbrook BIA. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
