St. George Running Center hosted its fifth annual Galentine’s Night, bringing community members together for an evening featuring prizes, local vendors and socializing.
Store owner Kendra Hooper said she created the event as a way to give back to women in the community and provide a welcoming space to connect. The event was hosted Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. and was open to girls and women ages 14 and older.
Galentine’s Night followed the store’s Galentine’s Run earlier in the day, a three-mile community run where participants were encouraged to wear pink or red.
Hooper said the event began five years ago as a small gathering and has grown into a yearly tradition focused on community and friendship.
“You don’t have to be a runner. It’s just [for] anyone that wants to have a good time,” Hooper said.
The running store gave swag bags to the first 50 guests and provided 100 free smoothies. Activities included a photo booth, a Valentine’s card-making station and vendor booths featuring spoon rings and ear piercings.
The swag bags included hats, socks, energy chews, stickers and other promotional items from the store and vendors.
Refreshments included a charcuterie board, snack cups, cookies, lemonade and soda for guests.
Silver Spoon Rings sold handmade rings in a variety of sizes and designs during the event. Guests could also receive lobe or cartilage piercings from a visiting vendor.
In previous years, Hooper invited vendors she knew personally, but she said she expanded outreach this year to include new small businesses.
“It’s cool that all the women here that have similar interests can come together and meet others,” Tia Mitchell, a Smoothie King employee, said.
The store hosted multiple prize giveaways throughout the evening, including running shoes, apparel items, HOKA tumblers and socks. Guests could also participate in a guessing game by estimating the number of Sweethearts candies in a jar for an additional chance to win prizes.
“I think it brings people together,” attendee Abby Meier said. “I feel like there’s not many people our age that have a lot of social paths besides Utah Tech University.”
All apparel in the store was discounted 30% during the event, and many guests browsed merchandise while visiting with friends. Hooper said the store typically holds major sales only twice each year — during Galentine’s Night and Black Friday.
“The big giveaways keep us coming back,” attendee Shaylee Barney said. “It is exciting winning items that I know I will use every day.”
Meier said she learned about the event through social media and decided to attend with friends.
“We aren’t runners, but it looked interesting so we decided to come check it out. I have had such a great time talking and meeting new people,” Meier said. “I would love to come back every year.”
“It’s an event I love hosting every year,” Hooper said. “I love to see a community with common interests come together and have fun.”
