Girls and their fathers or other significant male figures in their lives enjoyed the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance at the Pete Thorn Gym at Lucerne Park in Warsaw on Friday, Feb. 3. The event boasted an ’80s theme, with Seth Carson, right, and his daughter Anna Carson donning decade-appropriate attire. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Jason Rich has been taking his daughters to the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance since 2008.

He first came with his eldest daughter, who’s now in college, and at this year’s dance on Friday, Feb 3, brought his daughters Cassie, 14, and Tessa, 12.

“It’s just a great night,” said Rich of why he continued to attend with his daughters. “We get dressed up and even though they’re a little older and we don’t dance a whole lot now, and I can’t throw them around on the dance floor like I used to, it’s still just a good time with all three of us.”

“We go out to dinner afterwards and the parks department makes it different every year,” he continued.

Kevin Scheil was at the dance with his daughter, Khloe, 8, and has been coming to the event for four years due to “the people that put it on.”

“It’s a great thing for dads, (we) don’t always get to do things with (our) daughters, so I think it’s a wonderful thing,” he said.

This year’s event boasted an ’80s theme, which Warsaw Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer said was due to it occurring at the Pete Thorn Gym at Lucerne Park in Warsaw instead of Center Lake Pavilion like usual. The latter is under renovation.

Schaefer said Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer thought the theme worked well with the gym setting.

Girls ages 3-14 and their fathers or other important male figures in their lives enjoyed dancing to music, with Derek Tenney serving as DJ, and got their pictures taken. Girls also received cupcakes and gift boxes with favors.

Schaefer said the parks department sold almost 300 tickets for the event split between Friday and the second slot for the dance on Saturday, Feb. 4.

“I just hope (the dads and other men) have a really special night with their daughters or granddaughters just to make memories,” she said. “I know I always loved doing things with my dad and I think that they always say, ‘Daddy’s little girl,’ so I just want them to have a really nice night that they’re going to remember.”

“And so many girls that come back year after year, they look forward to it every year, so when they turn 14, that’s the last year that they can come, so just trying to make those special memories,” she added.

The parks’ department is to have a similar event for mothers and sons on Friday, May 12.

Attendees take to the dance floor.

Casey Couture, left, and his daughter Ceceilia Couture pose for a photo.

Spencer McOscar, left, and his daughter Korra McOscar dance.

Mark Pohl, right, and his daughter Nora Pohl enjoy some time together.