By CHARLES MELTON

Editor

What started out as just a way to bring fathers and daughters together in 1996 has become the stuff of memories that last forever more than 10 years later.

The 14th annual Daddy Daughter Dance is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Bremerton Sons of Norway Hall, and tickets are $15 per couple and $9 for each additional daughter.

“The first Daddy Daughter Dance was in 1996 at the senior center on Nipsic (Avenue),” said city of Bremerton parks and recreation program coordinator Cynthia Engelgau. “The dance grew so rapidly that in 1998 it was moved to the Sons of Norway Hall and sells out every year.”

Every daughter receives a wristlet, and many daughters collect these and their ticket stubs, Engelgau said.

“There is a station where girls can make cards for their moms (Moms can’t come),” she said. “We always have lots of cookies, punch and other refreshments.”

Local businesses always rally around the event to make it extra special for the dads and daughters who attend, she said.

“We have some daddies and daughters who have been coming all 14 years,” she said.

One of those dads is Scott Alexander from Alexander’s Pro Shop at the Gold Mountain Golf Course, Engelgau said.

“His daughter Tucker went shopping especially to pick out a donation from her for the daughters, a beautiful little purse,” she said.

Jeff White from Bremerton Bottling donates Pepsi logoed shirts and bags and clocks; Ron Hillers from Alpine Chiropractic donates special pillows; Tom Daines from Tom’s Carpet cleaning donates movie passes, and Garguile’s Red Apple Market always provides the punch, she said.

“There are always lots of stuff animals for the daughters to win,” she said. “Lots of other business and dads have donated over the years to make the door prize drawings something special to look forward to.”

Music is provided by Dave Rose of Mobile Sound, she said.

“He isn’t just a DJ, he is also a Dad,” she said. “He and his daughter have been attending since 2000. He knows just the right mix of music to play. The girls love to request special songs, and he has them all.”

As the dance has evolved, so has the quality of pictures each attendee receives, she said.

“In the beginning dads and daughters got a Polaroid picture at the dance,” she said. “Now dads can have pictures taken by our professional photographer Wendy from Sparrows Portraits.”

Almost every couple gets their picture taken and the line for photos is always full, she said.

“Whole families like the Garguile girls (sisters and cousins) have their annual photo taken at the dance,” she said. “Grandpa Nick even attends the dance with the girls and dads.”