Friends smile for a photo at the inaugural Girls Night Out event held last year. Organized by Patrice Wheeler and Temeka Wilson, this year's event will take place Saturday.

A Girls Night Out event happening in Tyler on Saturday is set to have more than 40 vendors in attendance.

The first event, held in 2022, had approximately 20 vendors; having to turn some away, according to event organizer Patrice Wheeler.

“My business partner Temeka Wilson and I hosted this event for the first time last year. Our venue was smaller and we ended up having to turn vendors away,” she said. “This year we wanted to be able to accommodate as many vendors as possible so we changed venue locations to the Majesty Event Center in Tyler.”

Wheeler describes the event as an evening spent outside of the home by a group of women, allowing them to escape the normal and have some nice, positive fun for a few hours and being able to mingle, shop, eat a light meal, listen to a little music, and perhaps do a few line dances.

“But more than anything it’s a way to bring us women together in unity and let others know that we support one another. Being a woman isn’t easy, nor is being an entrepreneur,” Wheeler said. “Women that believe in one another can survive anything. Women that support each other create armies that win. So we want to see you ladies in numbers, suited and booted, with positive vibes, ready to support and have fun.”

The duo decided to create the event after meeting and networking together.

“The two of us came together a few years ago and came up with the idea of doing a Girls Night Out after meeting and networking with one another and realizing how great it was to have another woman entrepreneur on your side,” she said. “Whether it’s to help you through your business process or for motivation or sometimes just pointing each other in the correct direction for guidance. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish together.”

Wheeler said with all the responsibilities that come along with being a female entrepreneur, she hopes the event can bring support, mentorship, and fun to the ladies of the Tyler community.

“As women in society we work hard as mothers, at our jobs, as wives and everything we do, and now there are so many women entrepreneurs, and we just want to bring support and awareness and spotlight those ladies along with giving the ladies of the Tyler community a positive and fun night out to enjoy themselves,” she said.

As part of the event, Wheeler said a nonprofit founded by a woman that benefits women will receive support through donations at the event.

“This year we will be taking donations for Better Me Foundation founded by Sharonica Randle-Holmes. Better Me Foundation is a nonprofit organization that she just started to help young teen girls in the community,” she said. “Although the event is free we will be accepting donations that go towards her building her organization.”

The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Majesty Event Center located at 900 West Bow Street.

For more information, visit the Girls Night Out 2.0 Facebook group.