The father-daughter dance at First United Methodist Church, Schuylkill Haven, is one way to celebrate love this February.
Shirley Yenilaitus, organizer, said the event is a "beautiful way for fathers to take out their daughters and show them how they should be treated."
Many people look forward to the dance, and for the girls it is like going to a prom, Yenilaitus said.
The event was started 10 years ago by parishioner Connie Glunz.
"It was her idea to have a time, not just for the fathers and daughters to spend some time together and to connect, but also for the daughters to get a chance for their fathers to show them the way that they should be treated on a date," Yenilaitus said.
The church hall is "decked out" like a Valentine's prom, with round tables to sit at and enjoy refreshments and a backdrop for photos.
"We have a nice backdrop that we use every year, with hearts on it for the theme, and there are complimentary pictures taken for them to have as a keepsake," Yenilaitus said.
The photos, refreshments and entertainment are all part of the $6 admission fee.
"This is an outreach, and it is for people, so there's really no way we actually recover the cost," she said. "We make it a very nice evening. A live band instead of a DJ makes it a special time as well, and we have a band that will play lots of new (music) and oldies, most importantly clean music, classic and perhaps some rock of the Christian type."
Some people come regularly, including one man who comes with his two daughters every year. Last year, his daughter invited him as a way to celebrate her 16th birthday.
"It's so wonderful for the girls, who can start coming from 1 year old on up, but it's the preteens, I think, that enjoy it the most and you know, they are so impressionable, girls at that age, that it's just a great thing for them," Yenilaitus said. "They get to dress up, some even with corsages, and their fathers or grandfathers will take them out to dinner and then here, and they see what it is like to be treated well by a Christian man."
They have fun with each other as well and just like at any dance, the girls will dance more than the men.
"It's good clean fun, and it's something that people really appreciate when they do it," Yenilaitus said.
The dance will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, but there is no worry about being out late because "many students are off the next day for Presidents Day," Yenilaitus said.
The church will also sponsored a mother-son dance in May.
For more information and reservations, contact First United Methodist Church at 570-385-3491.