The nearly sold-out charity fundraiser, hosted at Bristol’s Jack Graham Community Center, featured a vendors market, a silent auction, a buffet, bingo, and door prizes.

“We chose the Ladies’ Night theme because there was nothing like it in Bristol and the ladies of the Pontiac deserve a night out,” said Marché Bristol Market’s president Emily Reid.

She said that the event was such a success that the organization, which just got its nonprofit status over the summer, is already planning another large fundraiser for next year.

Reid is one of Marché Bristol’s three board members and permanent volunteers. Other members include treasurer Jennifer Gauthier and secretary Taylor Tubman.

The event raised money for Angel Tree, a volunteer organization whose mission is to provide children in need in the Outaouais with toys, clothes, hygiene products, food, and school supplies.

“We decided to go with Angel Tree because they weren’t getting a lot of publicity through other local events,” Reid said. “And the timing is just perfect, because they’re really focused around Christmas time.”

Samantha Jane, a wedding officiant and sex educator, was one of 11 vendors at the event, selling a range of personal products for women.

“I came here tonight because I know the organizers, and they thought it would be a good place for me to get to know some of the community,” she said.

“I’m having the party of my life it seems,” she added with a grin, yelling slightly over a cover performance of The Beatles’ Twist and Shout that was blaring from the stage.

The live music from self-described “high-voltage rock-blues-country band” Jon Dale kept energy levels up all night.

Band members included lead vocalist Katy Shnier, lead guitarist Nicolas Carrière, Mathieu Carrière on guitar and vocals, Patrick Marshall on drums, and Eugene Sable on bass.

“Everybody was just in a great mood,” said Gail Gavan, who attended the event and even graced the stage herself to provide some impromptu entertainment.

“We all needed to get out and just have a little bit of fun,” she added.

Ladies’ Night was catered by Chantal Labrie and Melanie Rivet of Norway Bay’s My Way chip stand, with desserts from Jennifer Gauthier, also known as The Bay Baker.

From left, Nadine Bursey, Wendy Roberts, Angela Firman, Gail Gavan and Della Johnstone danced the evening away at Marché Bristol Market’s first ladies’ night.

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