The 17th annual Daddy-Daughter Dance presented by the Carrollton Police Officer Association at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship Church is on Feb. 24 from 6-9 p.m. Officer Cole Langston started the event 17 years ago and was inspired by the City of Frisco’s Daddy-Daughter Dance.
“My main [goal] was to create an opportunity and a memory for dads and daughters to connect,” Langston said. “Research shows that the father-daughter relationship is a critical one for a young lady. It sets her up for every other relationship she’ll ever have in her life with a man.”
Tickets can be preordered for $35 per duo – $15 extra for more than one daughter – or purchased at the event for $55 and $25 for each additional daughter. All fathers in the area with young daughters – ages 3-years-old to 18-years-old – are encouraged to attend the dance.
“[We created the event] to outreach to the community and have an event for fathers and daughters to get together and have a fun time,” president of Carrollton Police Officer Association Andrew Withers said. “It’s fun to help run it [and] organize it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding.”
There will be approximately 120 volunteers at the event. Mothers and sons are unable to attend the event, but can volunteer. Along with them, there will be National Honor Society and Young Men Service League members in attendance to help as well. Junior Cooper Langston is Cole’s son and has been working the event with him since he was 3 years old. He said he enjoys getting to shadow his father and help run the event.
“I get to see [my father] lead in action, and it’s a cool feeling to live with a man who has done so much for the community,” Cooper said. “I feel very fortunate to shadow him and learn from him and how he organizes the event. Without him, it would be impossible.”
Chick-Fil-A will cater the event, providing a packaged meal – including an original chicken sandwich, waffle potato chips and a can of soda – for $11.25. However, food can be purchased individually as well.
“[I want] the community to take part and enjoy their time,” Withers said. “It gives all us officers a chance to engage in the community in a way we don’t always get to engage in.”
A mini-rose corsage is available to purchase online for $25 and men’s boutonnieres for $10 beforehand or at the event. Other activities include professional portraits, cartoon watching, a photo booth and prize drawings.
“I think [fathers and daughters] will create an everlasting memory,” Cooper said. “I have a sister of my own and she can attest that the memories that she made with my father at the event are just incredible. It’s a great time for fathers and daughters to go hang out; it’s a real bonding moment.”
Before COVID-19, the event would hit around 1,700 people, and now it is around 1,000 people. Langston said the goal this year is to increase the amount of community members attending.
“We’re really wanting to grow the event,” Langston said. “We try to improve it every year and just provide a really quality product for a good price, for our community.”
