Attention Dads: Time to sign up for daddy-daughter dances

Valentine's Day is about a month away, and that mean local daddy-daughter dance organizers are getting ready for their big events.

Posted 1:50 a.m. Jan 14, 2013 — Updated 1:13 a.m. Jan 17, 2013

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Valentine's Day is about a month away, and that mean local daddy-daughter dance organizers are getting ready for their big events.

These are sweet occasions that can be as formal or as informal as the dad and daughter pair want it to be. For many families, these are annual events that dads and daughters look forward to all year. And in some cases, moms are not allowed!

Here are the ones that I know about, including a mother and son soiree. Many of these dances do sell out or require pre-registration. So be sure to check the website for details before you make plans to go. In some cases, dances do set age requirements for the daughters. Others don't.

If you know of more, please share in the comments below or email me the details.

The Triangle Area Father Daughter Dance is Feb. 2 at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh. I featured Joel Wiggins, the father behind this popular event, last year. His goal is to encourage dads to spend quality time with their daughters year round and for the community to help girls who don't have a father in their lives. The event provides admission, attire and transportation to the dance for selected girls with no father figure (and is collecting donations to support those efforts). Tickets include music, dancing, food and drinks, goodie bags, professional photography and videography and information on local father-daughter resources. Vanessa McClelland, Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2011, will attend. And Wiggins tells me they'll have a dance contest for the dads and a ceremony to honor the daughters. Tickets are $40 for a father-daughter pair, $55 for a dad and two daughters, and $70 for a dad and three daughters.
Cary's annual Daddy-Daughter Dance is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, at the Cary Senior Center, 120 Maury O'Dell Place. Registration is now open for dads and their daughters, ages 4 to 12. Tickets are $17 per person for residents and $22 for non-residents. The fee includes a photograph of the couple, live music entertainment and refreshments. Pre-registration is required for this event.
The annual Daddy-Daughter Dance at Laurel Hills Community Center on Edwards Mills Road in Raleigh is 6:30 p.m .to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 8. Tickets are $15 for residents and $27 for non-residents. Tickets include heavy hors d'oeuvres, a flower for each daughter and door prizes. A photo area will be set up and staff will be available to take pictures with your camera (so be sure to bring it!). Pre-registration required.
Church Alive in Fuquay-Varina will host The Princess Ball Father-Daughter Dance at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 1. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 at the door. The ball is for dads and daughters of all ages and will feature fast and slow Christian and secular music, light finger foods, drinks and more. Photo sessions and carnations will be offered on site for a donation. Proceeds benefit the church's children's ministry.
Cary Ballet Company will host a special night for dads and daughters at the Cary Ballet Conservatory, 3791 NW Cary Parkway. It's 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 2. Games, refreshments and door prizes are part of the evening. Don’t forget your camera for the photo station. Couples are $25. It's $10 per second daughter and $5 for each additional child.
Orange County parks will hold its daddy-daughter dance from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 8, at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd., in Chapel Hill. Tickets are $15 per person and include light refreshments, DJ, and one 5 X 7 photo of the dad and daughter pair. Daughters must be between the ages of 4 and 12. Timely pre-registration is highly encouraged as this sells out.
Nash County's annual Daddy-Daughter Sweetheart Dance is 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 2, at the Nash County Ag Center. Registration is due by Jan. 25. The event is for dads and their daughters, who are in kindergarten to fifth grade. The cost is $25 per couple and $5 for each extra child.
In Fayetteville, the Forever Fancy Sweetheart Dances honor both dads and daughters and mothers and sons. Both are held at the John D. Fuller Athletic/Recreation Complex. The Daddy & Daughter Sweetheart Dance is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Feb. 10. The Mother & Son Soiree is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Feb. 17. Tickets start at $30 total for one parent and child pair. Tickets include a live DJ, a flower for the daughter or mother, door prizes, giveaways, food and more. Buy before midnight, Jan. 21, and get $5 off your ticket price with the GOASKMOM discount code.
Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center will host the 16th annual Daddy Daughter Dance from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Feb. 16. The dance is for dads and their daughters ages 3 to 13. Tickets, which are $45 for Smithfield residents and $50 for non-residents, including entertainment, appetizers and a photo. There's a $5 charge for each additional daughter. You must register at the center. Call 919-934-2148 for details. Space is limited.
Triangle Youth Ballet will hold its second annual Father Daughter Valentine Dance, a fundraiser for the group. It's 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 9, at Extraordinary Ventures, 200 South Elliott Rd., Chapel Hill. Tickets are $20 for the parent and $15 per child. There will be a DJ, family portraits, a Valentine-themed dessert buffet and special activities led by ballerinas from the Triangle Youth Ballet. Moms, dads and sons and daughters are welcome.
Goldsboro's Daddy Daughter Dance is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 8, at Herman Park Center, 901 E. Ash St. Tickets are $5 per person.