No matter what the age, there is often no more important person in a woman's life than her father. That is the belief of Claire Knolle, the organizer of the second Mid-Ohio Valley Father-Daughter Date Night.
"Last year we had older toddlers all the way up to older women and their elderly fathers. We didn't expect that but it was very sweet," Knolle said.
This year's event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at The Lafayette Hotel and is again open to all fathers or father figures and daughters of all ages.
More than 100 people attended last year's event at Wood County Christian School, according to Knolle. This year she is hoping to see the attendance go up.
"There is a real need for dads to be a part of their daughter's lives because he is who these young girls look up to," she said.
The evening will be filled with family-friendly events, including ballroom-style slow music courtesy of Crossover DJ, games, non-alcoholic beverages and even a chocolate fountain. Ladies are asked to bring baked goods on disposable trays. Vienna Baptist Church Pastor Bill Brown will be speaking, with a special message geared toward the fathers while one of Brown's three daughters will provide a positive message to the daughters.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Mid-Ohio Valley Father-Daughter Date Night.
Where: Lafayette Hotel, Marietta.
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, with doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $7 per person; available at Stoked Coffee in Marietta, Wood County Christian School office in Williamstown, Christian Supply Center and Schrader Youth Ballet studio in Parkersburg, during studio hours. Tickets are available through Friday and will not be sold at the door.
Details: Fathers or father figures and daughters of any age are invited; semi-formal attire requested; speaker and disc jockey. Daughters are asked to bring baked goods on a disposable tray.
Semi-formal attire is requested but not mandatory; however, Knolle said she feels that adds to the magic of the evening to let the girls "get dolled up" and look nice for their fathers.
While this is only the second year for the event locally, such an idea has been around for a while, according to Knolle.
Getting to spend time with his daughter is the main reason Jeff Adkins, 56, of Marietta, looks forward to the evening.
"We don't get a lot of father-daughter time," said the father of a son and a daughter. "It's just good bonding time."
Beth Adkins, 15, said she and her dad will spend time going to the movies, shopping and going out to eat. But she especially looks forward to father-daughter date night, learning things she didn't know about her parent and also sporting some fancy attire.
"I enjoy dressing up for anything," she said. "But I think (date night) is a lot of fun."
