Women will be able to experience what the Main Street Cultural District has to offer during the third annual Wild Women’s Weekend Friday and Saturday.

Allyson Walter, interim director of the Main Street Cultural District and owner of the Savvy Shopper, 310 Main St., said she is excited for the weekend.

“Part of the fun is that you get 300 to 400 people on Main Street,” Walters said.

Businesses will be hosting an array of events beginning 9 a.m. Friday and continuing into the evening. Registration is required for the weekend.

Perks of registering include goodie bags filled with treats, a coupon book for the weekend and the choice of either a hot-pink or lime-green scarf or the signature pink boa. One of the three is needed to get into the events.

“It’s an opportunity to discover great stores on the Main Street Cultural District,” Walters said. “People are so busy – they never take time to see other stores.”

Judy Gilger, co-manager of Gilger Designs, 236 Main St., is hosting a seminar called “Magic of Pearls: Saltwater Pearls,” at 1 p.m. Friday at the store.

“I love pearls,” Gilger said. “People can wear them for any occasion. They’re timeless.”

Gilger chose pearls because it is the birthstone for June and everyone seems to like pearls, she said.

Gilger will reveal how to tell the difference between a fine-quality pearl and an imitation. There will also be time for questions from the audience.

“For downtown Ames, it highlights the unique stores that we have down here,” Gilger said. “We have such a variety and we have things for everybody’s age groups and likes.”

Visitors can learn how to make a delicious mango salsa and other side dishes to complement barbecue food at the cooking demo Cook’s Emporium, 313 Main St., is hosting at 11 a.m. Friday.

“It’s a great time to grill, but you need something to go with it,” said Marg Junkhan, owner of Cook’s Emporium.

Another cooking demo, Viva Italia!, will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday and is open to the public. The registration fee is $5.

“I think it’s great. I like the concept,” Junkhan said. “Women need something fun to go out and do once in a while.”

Temptations, 309 Main St., will be hosting a chocolate molding class at 1 p.m. Friday, at their shop. The chocolate store has been participating in Wild Women’s Weekend for the past two years, but this is its first year to host an event.

“We thought it was a good way to show people how easy it is to make the chocolates. It’s fun and you get to eat the chocolate when you’re done,” said Janice Coble, co-owner of Temptations. “It really is fun, that weekend, to see the women going up and down the street in the boas. You can tell they’re having a good time.”

Events for Friday night include a brewery tour of Olde Main Brewing Company, 316 Main St., a Truffle Your Feathers event at Chocolaterie Stam, 230 Main St., and a concert by BeJae Fleming at the Octagon Art Shop, 427 Douglas Ave., at 8:30 p.m. The cost of the concert is not included in registration.

Saturday has several events with two special programs – one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

The Savvy Shopper and Moorman Clothiers, 226 Main St., are two of the clothing stores involved in the Sweet & Stylish Fashion Show at 9 a.m. at Olde Main Brewing Company.

Roger Robinson, of Moorman Clothiers, said to expect to see clothes that reflect sophisticated styles for women college students and up.

Saturday afternoon at the Octagon Art Gallery is the Chocolate, Wine & Interior Design seminar.

The nationally renowned interior designer Linda Glantz, owner of Linda Glantz Interiors, 406 Main St., will be the speaker.

The workshop includes wine and chocolates, including Temptations’ signature Truffles beforehand.