Connie Morgan, staff reporter

The Ellensburg Downtown Association put on another successful Girls Night Out last night. This special event happens multiple nights every year as a way to showcase the local businesses in downtown Ellensburg.  Over 25 businesses participated in this quarter’s event.

Girls Night Out operates similarly to Bite of the ‘Burg or Wildcat Appreciation Night. All three of these events are put on by the Ellensburg Downtown Association. Businesses in the association open their doors and offer specials, discounts and free samples in the hopes of attracting a younger crowd.

Girls Night Out is a newer event, with not as big of a following as Bite of the ‘Burg, but it is growing every time.

Last night’s sponsors were Alente Spa and Salon and Iron Horse Brewery. Alente offered discounts, free snacks, samples of Iron Horse Brews and featured a “trashion show” in support of Aid Africa.

The trashion show showcased models decked out in clothing made from recycled clothing. The show took place every half hour in the Alente store. Eighty-eight One The ‘Burg dropped the beats while models walked in outfits made from grocery bags, boxed and candy wrappers.

Darcie Whitfield, a massage and skin therapist at Alente, believes in the importance of events such as Girls Night Out.

“We hope to support our downtown and raise awareness for all these local businesses that help our community, not just our own,” Whitfield said. “But of course it’s always nice to get exposure for our own business as well.”

Iron Horse Brewery, the second sponsor of Girls Night Out, offered free samples of it’s IPA at Alente, but also took a dive into the pastry business. The brewery offered raspBEERy cupcakes with a ginger infused frosting to go along with High Five Hefe brew in it’s downtown micropub.

Giveaways and special deals were a common theme of the night. Every time anyone spent ten dollars at participating venues during the night, they were entered into one of two raffles. The raffles included gift baskets consisting of prizes such as a free haircut and manicure, bottle of wine and foot detox.

Downtown shopping in Ellensburg rarely gets cheaper. Sophomore psychology major Allysen Swinney was grateful for that. It was Swinney’s first time at Girls Night Out and she was more than happy to explain why Girls Night Out was worth it.

“Obviously all the free food, and the coupons and the henna” Swinney said.

When asked whether she would come again Swinney smiled.

“Yeah, cause next year I’ll get free wine.” Swinney said.

Girls Night Out is family friendly but there are still plenty of opportunities for the older crowd to have fun as well.Ellensburg WineWorks was giving out free wine tastings, Gallery One offered 25 cent Iron Horse tastes and Gifts of the Vine offered one dollar wine pours.

For more information in Girls Night Out and other events put in by the Ellensburg Downtown Association, check out their website at ellensburgdowntown.org.