Daddies held their daughters a bit closer as they slow danced in the swirling lights at the Seasons Conference Center.
The band Heartland sang from the DJ booth: “I loved her first. I held her first. And a place in my heart will always be hers. From the first breath she breathed, when she first smiled at me, I knew the love of a father runs deep.”
But it wasn’t long before Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” started, and the majority of daddies moved off to the side as their little dates let loose with friends.
For the last six years, daddies and daughters have put on their best outfits to head out for a night of dancing, games and snacks at the annual Brown County Parks and Recreation Daddy-Daughter Dance. This year’s dance took place Feb. 7.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]This year was the most attended yet, with a little over 300 dads and daughters showing up. A large, pink “Sold out” sign hung outside on the doors to the conference as a long line waited to sign in just on the other side.
From tiny ball gowns to fur coats, the girls were all dolled up. Some had flowers; others shrieked in excitement when they saw their friends and were able to show off their newest manicure.
All girls received a gift bag when they arrived, including a light-up flower crown that most girls ran around wearing all night.
Dancing was not the only fun. Counters along the edge of the conference center were lined with a variety of snacks. Patient daddies watched as their little dates took their time dipping strawberries, graham crackers, pretzels and marshmallows into a chocolate fondue fountain.
The back of the conference room was game central, as dads and their dates took their turns at a unicorn ring toss, a frog-themed corn hole game, a football throw game and a round of putt-putt golf that was princess-themed. Winners received a Ty-Beanie Baby of their choice. There were also face painting and photo booths.
The first Daddy-Daughter Dance only had eight participants. Parks and rec program specialist Andy Rudd said the annual dance has “ballooned up” over the last few years.
Last year, the cap was set at 250 daddies and daughters. This year’s was 300 after the 250 cap was met two weeks before the event.
Rudd said parks and rec likes to try different programming to see what might work in the county. He said this dance just “really, really stuck.”
“The girls get excited about it,” he said.
“It seems to be the most popular event.”
