Is it too early to talk about Christmas?
Not if you harbour any aspirations of getting your hands on a ticket for the after-party of the pre-Christmas event called Steveston Girls’ Night Out (GNO) on Nov. 24.
Now in its sixth year, the GNO is so popular that women line up outside O’Hare’s GastroPub on Steveston Highway to bag a maximum of four after-party tickets each.
And at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 120 of the highly-coveted, $25 after-party passes will go on sale at the pub, with the entire stock expected to yet again be history within a few minutes.
Erinn Bryan — GNO founder and co-owner of O’Hare’s — said it took only seven minutes or so to clear the tickets out last year, after a 10-deep line-up had formed prior to the doors opening.
“We estimated between 700 and 800 took part in (the shopping part of) last year’s event,” said Bryan, referring to the main event itself, which is free and kicks off at 6 p.m. in the village.
“The streets were packed, there were line-ups outside some shops, there was a real buzz around the village; it’s a great atmosphere and it’s definitely Steveston’s busiest night of the year. I know Steveston merchants look forward to it.”
Special discounts, added value deals and swag bags are a feature during the night from participating village merchants.
And although the shopping spree officially starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m., some merchants, added Bryan, have been known to start a little earlier.
If you need some “fuel” ahead of the fun, pre-shopping drinks and bites are also available at Tapenade Bistro and Little Mexico Cantina, where there will be special GNO menus.
“It might be wise to book early if that’s something you like the idea of,” said Bryan.
The after-party at the Blue Canoe starts at 9 p.m. Each ticket comes with a glass of wine and an appie plate and $5 from each sale goes to the Richmond Christmas Fund.
More information is available online at Facebook.com/Steveston-Girls-Night-Out or ExploreSteveston.com.
