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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fathers gave their daughters a rose during the rose ceremony at the annual Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fathers and daughters danced to the "YMCA" during the annual Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fathers and daughters did the "Chicken Dance" during the annual Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fathers slow danced with their daughters after the rose ceremony during the Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.A father and daughter pair danced during the annual Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Fathers and daughters danced throughout the night during the Father Daughter Dance at Boardman Park on Feb. 16.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Fathers and daughters gathered at Boardman Park for the 14th annual Father Daughter Dance on Feb. 10-11 and 16-19.
This is the first year the event occurred over a six-night period. The Father Daughter dance has been so popular and successful in recent years all of the nights would sell out, so Boardman Park decided to add two more nights to allow more people to sign up. Fathers can bring their daughters as long as they are between the ages of 5- and 12-years-old.
There have been father and daughter pairs who have come for multiple years while this year was the first for others. One father has been coming with his two daughters for 13 years. Michael Snyder and his younger daughter, Lillian, will enjoy the Father Daughter Night for the last time in 2018 before Lillian gets too old to attend anymore.
“With a busy schedule and being on the run, it’s nice to be able to relax and spend time together,” said Michael.
Lillian said she enjoys everything the event has to offer and is sad next year is her last year. The night consists of several activities for the father and daughter pairs. They can come and get their picture taken professionally, enjoy a meal, dance and participate in a rose ceremony toward the end of the night. The pairs could also make a craft to take home as a way to remember the special occasion.
“It’s a tribute to the dads and their family values here in the Valley,” said Karen McCallum, recreation director of Boardman Park. After eating and dancing, the rose ceremony was ready to begin. Fathers and daughters were separated into two different rooms while McCallum gave the fathers instructions on what to do. The fathers would walk into the other room where their daughters were and give them a rose. The pairs would then dance to “My Girl” as a celebration.
As the night started to wind down, the fathers and daughters would collect their items and make their way home.