This year will be the 28th installment of the YMCA’s Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance. Dads and daughters from around the area will dance the night away at the downtown branch of the Woodson YMCA.What you need to know:
- Saturday, February 10, 2018 – 6:30-9pm
- Woodson YMCA, 707 Third St, Wausau, WI 54403
- Advance tickets are $14 per person for members, $19 for non-members. (Additional daughters receive discount – $3).Tickets at the door are $22 per person.
- Semi-formal attire is required.
- The YMCA provides a list of restaurants that provide a discount to ticket-holders. In 2018, you can get a free kid’s entree with the purchase of an adult entree at Applebee’s, 2510, or the Green Mill.
- The dance supports the YMCA’s Annual Community Partners Campaign.
Review:
My husband and daughter went to dinner at 2510 with some friends. We were able to make a reservation and there wasn’t any issue with receiving the deal that was advertised (free kid’s entree with the purchase of an adult entree).
They arrived at the YMCA a few minutes after 6:30. The parking lot was already full, but there was street parking available. Once inside, there was a free coat check and there was the option to buy tickets. In 2018 the cost was: 1 Ticket for $1, 12 Tickets for $10, or 25 Tickets for $20.
Some of the activities were free and others cost 1-4 raffle tickets. The free activities were: the dance, decorating cookies with frosting, punch, a sparkly paper crown, a paper bag that could be decorated with foam stickers, a velvety door hanger that could be colored, a puzzle that could be colored. There were also some crafts that cost 1 ticket, such as a bead bracelet. For 4 tickets you could get your picture taken in front of a backdrop by a photographer. The photographer emails out the pictures after the event.
Tickets could also be used to try to win one of the raffle baskets. You could choose which basket you wanted to try to win by writing your name on your ticket and placing it in the container for the specific basket.
Raffle basket examples:
- Swimming Fun – A Mermaid Beach Towel, Beach Ball, Goggles, Sand Bucket, Water Balloons, and a YMCA Swim Voucher
- Camping – A Fire Pit, 2 Lawn Chairs, Bug Spray, Cast Iron Camp Cooker, Marshmallow Sticks, S’mores Fixings, Tiki Torches and a Townline Market Gift Certificate
- Reading Fun! – Books, Stuffed Animals, and a Janke Book Store Gift Certificate
The dance was in the basketball gym and other rooms were used for the individual crafts, and cookies, punch and raffle. The dance had a DJ, and although it busy with lots of dads and daughters dancing up a storm, there was still plenty of room.
Everyone did a good job of dressing for the occasion. Almost all dads wore dress shirts and dress pants. Many wore ties, and some also wore suit coats. All, or almost all, of the daughters wore dresses of varying fanciness.
In conclusion, my husband and daughter both had a great time! The price was worth it for the fun environment and because it is a fundraiser for the YMCA’s Annual Community Partners Campaign.
My two recommendations would be: make the dance more accessible for low-income families (it is a special bonding experience for fathers and daughters), and the YMCA should start a mother son dance. (There is an overnight mother son camp-out.)
Readers, comment below to let me know your thoughts!