Annual event celebrates women’s business, arts, exercise

PALMER — Next weekend, hundreds of residents will likely be asking, “Who let the girls out?” as women of all ages roam the streets on foot, by bicycle or via horse-drawn carriage, for discounts, new products, selfies and more.

The fifth annual “Who Let the Girls Out” event is April 24-25 in downtown Palmer.

To kick off the weekend and “kick cabin fever,” Valley Women’s Running Team members Vera Hershey, Erin Kittredge and Jenny Hoeger are co-directing the “Who Let the Girls Out” 5-kilometer timed run and walk, starting at 6:30 p.m., Friday.

“Our goal is to encourage women and their daughters to embrace a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise,” Hershey said.

Online registration for the run is open until April 22 at vwrt.org. Race day registration is also available from 4 to 6 p.m. at Active Soles Performance Footwear in the Koslosky Center in Palmer.

Midnight Sun Yoga Center will lead racers in pre-run yoga at the Downtown Palmer Pavilion at 6:15 p.m. An awards ceremony follows the race at Roadhouse BBQ at 7:30 p.m.

Prior to the awards ceremony, ladies can slide on over to the Palmer Bar for a purse auction to benefit Santa Cop and Heroes at 7 p.m.

Last year, the purse auction raised $5,000 for MY House with the help of bar owner Mary Lou Cottington and Sandy Baker from Country Legends.

Over at Klondike Mike’s, a poker run to raise money for those affected by autism starts at 8 p.m.

Post-poker run, at 9 p.m., The Rockin’ Candys will take the stage back at the Palmer Bar, courtesy of Josh Fryfogle at Make A Scene, who has booked all the musicians for the weekend.

Day 2, April 25

Saturday morning starts bright and early with the Palmer City Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the senior center, 1132 S. Chugach St. After a blood, hearing or visual acuity test — and more — women are encouraged to visit the “Be the Match” bone marrow registry drive between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Downtown Palmer Plaza in the Turkey Red activity room.

The drive is hosted by friends of Kelly Marre, a blood and bone marrow donor advocate diagnosed last fall with the same cancer her son died of at age 9.

“To date, Kelly Marre has not found a bone marrow match, (so) her doctors are planning to continue chemo and hopefully a cord blood procedure in May,” said drive organizer Annette Johnson.

For more information, contact Johnson at apj@mtaonline.net.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Barbie Wagner of By the Spirit Studio invites women in the military — including spouses and children of military men — to come have their family photos taken for free at Silva Insurance, 234 Evergreen Ave.

A free women’s business seminar also begins at 10 a.m., Saturday in the Palmer Moose Lodge. Businesswomen Jeanette Gardiner, Tammy Bruce and DanaLyn Dalrymple will offer “tips, tools and strategies to grow your business investments” in their presentation titled, “Sowing Seeds of Success.” Seating is limited, so call 746-1175 to register.

Women interested in the more artsy side of things can head to Madd Matters for a fiber arts class at 10 a.m. or paint shoes at 1 p.m. Space is limited, so call 745-6405 to register.

While popping in and out of shops before lunch, be sure to watch for the Valley Arts Alliance’s Wearable Art parade, which starts at 11 a.m. at the Palmer Museum.

In the afternoon, event attendees are invited to stroll over to the Palmer Downtown Deli for a cake walk or two at 1 and 4 p.m. Cakes will be donated by North Star Bakery, tickets are $5, and all proceeds benefit the Providence Cancer Center in Anchorage.

At the deli, patrons also will be able to partake of some women-themed specials for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday.

Additionally, female musicians Emily Kathryn Barry, Melanie Troust, Devynn Maclure, and Amy Beth will perform at 4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m., respectively, at the deli on Saturday. Jewelry vendor “Contagious Creativity” also will have a booth set up.

Over at Vagabond Blues, passersby will have the opportunity to listen to harpist Boogie Willis at 2 p.m.; percussionist Meggie Aube and Friends at 3 p.m.; Maclure at 4 p.m.; Amy Beth at 5 p.m.; and Mountain Waxwings at 6 p.m.

For some poetry sans music, the local National Organization of Women — Mat-Su NOW — will host a women’s poetry reading titled “Who Let the Poets Out” from 2 to 3 p.m. at Fireside Books.

Three new local businesses are using the event as an opportunity to host grand openings during their regular store hours. Palmer welcomes Lavender, a hair salon owned by former B. Bella hairstylist Hayley Moore, opening April 24 at 348 E. Elmwood Ave.; Roots Hair Studio, located at 1150 S. Colony Way, #15; and Forget Me Not Fibers, located at 1085 S. Cobb St., to their new homes.

Businesses that have been on the block for a bit longer also will participate in the event. The Gallery celebrates 30 years in business this year and is offering 40 percent off everything in the store; ladies can learn to make pop-up cards at Shane Lamb Gallery; watch raku-style pottery firing from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with Sandra Cook at the Palmer Museum; see new do-it-yourself products at CoverUps; and sip new teas at NonEssentials with owner Denise Statz and Sherry Maresca from Clumzy Clover in Wasilla.

Statz is also the mastermind behind the “Who Let the Girls Out” event — as well as a few other annual Palmer festivals.

Whimsy Gift Shoppe, at 642 S. Alaska St., is hosting a “Selfie Scavenger Hunt” around town, and Magpie Clothing Exchange has planned a “Dress Yourself/Dress Your Friend” contest during regular business hours. Winners will receive a gift certificate to the respective business.

Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 member Jackie Endsley also will host a professional women’s clothing exchange at the Moose Lodge.

“There’s a little something for everybody,” Statz said.

For more information, contact Statz at 982-3363.