Daddy-daughter dance Saturday

After a day of outdoor games, downtown shopping and, of course, watching the area’s top ice carvers in action, Dowagiac’s dads and daughters have the perfect activity to cap off their experience at Saturday’s Ice Time Festival.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Dowagiac Middle School will host the city’s first ever Daddy Daughter Dance, inside the school cafeteria. Parents and children will be able to enjoy an evening of dancing, along with refreshments and the opportunity to visit a photo booth.

The new attraction is the creation of The Young Professionals of Dowagiac, the organization of local business owners and professionals formed last year. Last summer, the group was responsible for leading the successful fundraising effort to bring a Fourth of July fireworks display back to the city for the first time since 2005.

The idea of holding a family-friendly dance event was suggested to the rest of the group by Pat Bakeman, the owner of Bakeman Barbers. Like the idea of resurrecting the city’s fireworks display, the idea was met with universal praise from the other members, said organizer Jeremy Truitt.

“It’s going to be a fun, community event,” Truitt said. “It’s a way to give kids and parents something to do in addition to the rest of things the ice festival offers. We wanted to add to the festival, not take away from it.”

Members of the group will help run the event Saturday as well. Truitt will be serving as DJ, while Rebecca Kellogg with Blue Print Photography will be providing the photobooth.

“Between the music and the photography, we had the main things covered for the dance,” Truitt said. “[Superintendent Paul] Hartsig volunteered to let us do it at the middle school as well. It just kind of came together.”

Also lined up for the event will be a special appearance by Elsa and Olaf from the popular children’s movie Frozen, who will be portrayed by local actors, Truitt said. Cookies, candy, punch and other light refreshments will be offered as well.

The interest from the community in the dance has been tremendous, with the organization selling a majority of the presale tickets printed for the event, Truitt said.

“Any funds raised in addition to cover the costs of running the event are going toward the fireworks fund for this year,” he said.

Tickets are still available for the event, which cost $10 for one parent and two kids. They are available for purchase at Fifth Third Bank or Bakeman Barbers, and will also be sold at the door the day of the dance.

Several businesses will be offering special deals on Saturday to people who have purchased tickets as well.

“After a fun day at the ice festival, come over for the dance and have some more fun,” Truitt said. “We would like as many people to come and enjoy it.”