Ladies Take Stage

A few years ago, HEATHER WOOD SNYDER wanted to celebrate International Women’s Day by uplifting women in the community. Snyder, who is assistant general manager at Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, landed on raising money for Wilmington’s Domestic Violence and Shelter Services, Inc. 

“I was trying to think – well, we can throw a fundraiser, but how do I get people to actually come?” she says. “We can have music, a local female vendor market, food, drinks, games – I was just trying to come up with a way to get a bunch of women together and find a space to connect and celebrate each other.” 

Snyder organized and hosted the event in 2023 and 2024, took a break last year during a pregnancy and is now planning the newly-named Ladies Rock the Lake event for Saturday, March 7 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater.  

The event is free but will offer opportunities to donate to the women’s shelter and to also support local female vendors. Musicians EMILY BURDETTE and OLIVIA GILLASPIE will perform onstage, and Wine & Design is holding a sip-and-paint class in the Gator Garden. A ticket to paint costs $25 – advanced registration is required – and all proceeds will go toward the shelter.  

Ladies Rock the Lake, which runs from noon to 4 p.m., will also feature games, a raffle, massages, and a self-defense lesson. Food trucks will include Rude Bwoys Jerk Grill Food Truck and Brighter Days Coffee, Snyder says. 

“I just think that it’s important for women to get together and support each other,” Snyder says, “and having International Women’s Day gives us an excuse to do that.” 

Domestic Violence and Shelter Services, Inc. will have a representative at Ladies Rock the Lake to accept monetary and wish list donations, which include: 

• Bottled water 

• Gift cards (gas, food, Visa, Target, Wal-Mart) 

• Universal phone chargers 

• Microwaveable food items 

• Large plastic/Rubbermaid storage tubs 

• To-go meal containers 

• Leggings/sweatpants 

• Notebooks and journals 

• Trash bags 

• Laundry detergent pods 

• Reusable shopping/tote bags

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com

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