Every year the Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast - Sechelt sponsors a party dance night for girls ages five to 13 and the significant man in their lives: father, grandfather, other relative or neighbour.
Over the past 20 years, the Dad & Me event has grown into the social event of the year on the Sunshine Coast. From an attendance of about 50 in 1999 the dance has grown to a capacity crowd of 400 participants in recent years.
The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15 in the Chatelech Secondary School gym (Sechelt), with tunes provided by Much Video Dance, a favourite of the girls and their escorts. There’s a barbecue featuring burgers and hot dogs along with a terrific assortment of meats, veggies and cheese trays.
The emphasis is on fun, and a special time with Dad. We know the planning starts early in some homes. Some girls take advantage of the occasion to wear a special outfit (from princess dresses to tiaras and gumboots). Every year we hear of girls who get their Dad & Me dress as a Christmas present, and over the years we’ve seen more than one dad sporting a tuxedo.
Early in the year Rotarians are regularly quizzed about the date of the event, and anticipation runs high. Tickets are sold in advance and are available now from IGA in Gibsons and Wilson Creek, and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union in Sechelt and Gibsons. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as it is typically a sold-out event. No tickets are sold at the door. Admission is $10 for girls, $15 for men.
An on-scene photo booth is a fun way to mark the occasion, with donated proceeds supporting Rotary initiatives. Each girl goes home with a special goodie bag geared to her age group, thanks to generous donations by merchants in our community.
The Rotary Club of Sunshine Coast - Sechelt is especially appreciative of the generosity of local merchants. Without their assistance this event would not be possible.
Proceeds from the Dad & Me Dance go to fund community projects and to assist the Rotary effort to eradicate polio. For more information, see Rotary.org.
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