After about 100 dads and daughters attended the first ever Wee Learning Center Daddy-Daughter Dance last year, organizers are getting ready for a repeat.

The event will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on  Saturday, Feb. 8, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, with a grand march at 4 p.m. Attendees are set to line up for the march at 3:45 p.m.

Girls ages two through the fourth grade are invited to attend with their dads, grandpas or another special guest.

The decision to hold the event came while the Wee Learning Center was trying to find an event that would give parents and children bonding time.

“We were looking for a way to help connect parents with their children,” said Lynsey O’Donnell with the Learning Center.

Having opportunities for parents and children to spend time together is very important.

“I think nowadays that has kind of gone by the wayside. Parents are busy in their daily lives and so I think that gets put to the backburner,” O’Donnell said.

When they were trying to figure out what kind of event to hold, the Learning Center found that there were not many opportunities for dads to spend time with their daughters, O’Donnell said.

Last year’s event was well received.

“They really liked it,” O’Donnell said.

One of the most popular parts of the dance according to O’Donnell was the Grand March, where parents and grandparents got to see the dads and daughters walk into the dance.

For the kids, a ball drop of balloons was a highlight of the evening, she said.

Still, the part the dads and grandpas seemed to enjoy the most was watching their kids be in their element and have fun, O’Donnell said.

In addition to dancing, there are other activities at the event, including crafts and a candy table.

“There’s a little bit for everyone no matter the age,” O’Donnell said.

One of the songs is a slow dance for the dads and daughters to do together and at the end of the evening, the pair can get a professional photo.

In O’Donnell’s view, having these times spent with their dads is incredibly important to little girls.

“Those kids just eat up that time that they get with one-on-one time,” she said.

Staff at the Learning Center has already heard kids are very excited for this year’s event.

The event is also a fundraiser for work on the second phase of the Learning Center’s new playground.

The cost to attend is $20 for the pair, plus $5 for each additional daughter attending. Tickets to attend the Grand March are $2 each. Tickets are limited to pre-sale only and can be picked up at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church office.