‘A roaring good time’: Women’s Day Out in Afton kicks off year of events

AFTON - With a centurion trip to the past in theme, Afton’s Women’s Day Out event will be the first of 2025 in the city to encourage and promote the community and local businesses.

Women’s Day Out will kick off Saturday at 10 a.m., featuring vendors and giveaways. Organizers encourage costumes which match the event’s century-old theme, the Roaring ‘20s. Despite the name, both men and women are welcome.

Two locations will house more than 30 vendors. Attendees can begin their day at 175 E Kansas St within the hospitality center, where they can purchase an entry fee of $5 for giveaways, a map of Afton and refreshments. After checking out the vendors in that area, heading west of the square to the Afton Community Center will find even more vendors.

Weather on Saturday looks favorable, if a little cloudy, windy and chilly. Highs in the upper 40s might necessitate more visits to the indoor locations. While costumes may fit the theme, the organizers encouraged wearing what’s comfortable, especially with winds which could reach as high as 21 mph.

The event is also an opportunity for many of the business owners with brick-and-mortar buildings on the Afton square, with 15 locally-owned shops extending their hours into the weekend for the event. In addition, many businesses which don’t have a storefront contributed gifts for giveaways, making sure to contribute and be a part of a citywide event.

Giveaways will occur every half hour of the event, encouraging visitors to stick around and check out more vendors and more of Afton. Local restaurants including El Ranchito Mexican and The Roost will be open for the event in case a bite to eat is needed.

Women’s Day Out is primarily organized by two members of the Afton Development Corporation, Mary Hill and K’Lea Johnson. Both were modest about their contributions, referring to the other as more important at times.

Hill said how important it is for Afton to kick off their events for 2025. Women’s Day Out will join other traditional events in Afton such as Tuesday Night in the Park and the Pre-4th Celebration as events which promote the local community and offers family-friendly fun.

Events like the Women’s Day Out also encourage travel to Afton and give a chance for locals to show their work to others beyond their local scope. Hill said many people in Afton who make items at home get the chance to sell their work at these events as an alternative to running a continuous storefront.

No matter what, Women’s Day Out is sure to be a fun start to a year of fun local events in Afton.

“It’ll be a roaring good time,” Hill said.