Father-daughter dance to sway under the stars

How to go

What: Father-Daughter Dance

Where: City Hall Plaza, 76 E. High St., Springfield

When: 7-9 p.m. next Saturday, Aug. 17

Admission: $25 per father/daughter(s)

More info: 937-327-7312 or go to www.center-city.org

Call it the last blast of summer or a family event to go back to school on — with music, desserts and those closest to you.

Center City Association’s first father-daughter dance will be 7-9 p.m. Aug. 17 at City Hall Plaza.

“This is going to be a great way of promoting families and bringing people downtown,” said Theresa Hartley, vice president of Center City Association’s Board of Directors.

Although called a father-daughter dance, it’s open to stepfathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and so on. Hartley said one college student will be attending with her grandfather.

For the $25 ticket fee, the entire family can attend, so multiple daughters can share the attention. The dress code according to Hartley is semi-casual to semi-formal, suggesting nice slacks and shirt for men.

Proceeds will go to the Center City Foundation, which is focused on revitalization of downtown Springfield.

Another positive is the event will be outdoors on the City Hall plaza under a large tent, so it will go on rain or shine.

The dance is follow up on another popular Center City-sponsored fundraiser — an annual American Girl tea party. That event, held for the third time last spring, has been a huge success, exceeding expectations according to Hartley.

It focuses on girls and their moms, grandmothers, aunts or other significant female. The board brainstormed for a similar event to involve the guys.

Hartley said she was grateful for three main sponsors including The Gathering of Springfield, The Marriage Resource Center and Fatherhood Clark County, who promote positive family values and men’s roles.

“We’ve got a lot of sponsors who like that it’s being held downtown,” she said.

In addition to a live DJ and dancing, attendees can enjoy desserts prepared by the committee. A special photo booth will also be available with photos for purchase.

Tickets will be sold in advance and at the door, but only the former will qualify for unique door prizes including a princess party for the girls and the services of a personal trainer for a month for the men.

“We hope to have a variety of people who would like to spend a couple of hours outdoors downtown under the stars with family,” said Hartley. “It will be a good send-off before school.”