DOWAGIAC — It is that time of year, when all the local princesses should start dusting off their ball gowns and find their long-lost glass slippers for a night to remember.

The Young Professionals of Greater Dowagiac will host its fourth annual Daddy-Daughter Snowball dance in conjunction with the Ice Time Festival from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Dowagiac Middle School, 57072 Riverside Drive. Tickets cost $5 if purchased in advance, or $10 the day of the dance.

Tickets may be purchased at Bakeman Barbers, The Baker’s Rhapsody or Miss Michele & Co. dance studio, all located downtown on Front Street.

The local service organization — which, among other functions, organizes the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Russom Park — has run the event since 2015, as a way to raise money for the fireworks and other causes, as well as to give parents a chance to make some special memories with their children.

“There’s definitely a special bond between fathers and daughters,” said Jeremy Truitt, chairman of the Dowagiac Young Professionals. “This dance gives girls the chance to dress up like princesses and spend time with their dads at a fun, family-oriented event.”

The theme of this year’s dance will be based off the movie, “Moana.”

“We have usually tried to conduct a Facebook poll and ask people who their favorite Disney princess is or what movie they would like the dance themed around, and ‘Moana’ was the hands down favorite this year,” Truitt said.

The Miss Dowagiac 2018 Court of Honor will be in attendance, as well as Alicia McClain with Michiana Princess, who will be dressed as Moana.

In previous years, 400 to 500 people have attended the dance.

“It has been a very positive event in the past,” Truitt added. “I think one of the reasons it has been a success is because it’s a fun and low-cost event.”

All of the proceeds go back to the community through other local functions.

“This will be our fifth year of [the Young Professionals] throwing the Fourth of July fireworks. That’s one of our biggest events. Proceeds will go towards that and other positive events within the community,” Truitt said.

Cookies and fruit punch will be available at the dance. There will also be a photo booth provided by member Rebecca Steenbeke and her studio, Blue Print Photography, and the music and lights will be provided by Truitt and his company, True Entertainment.

“Realistically for this dance to come together, it was kind of a no-brainer for us as members to do because we are able to put our skills to use,” Truitt said. “With Rebecca and I donating our time, it helps keep the expenses low.”

Local businesses have also shown their support in contributing to the dance by providing various dance packages and deals.

Booth’s Country Florist is offering free carnation boutonnieres with the purchase of a corsage for the daughter’s. Several local salons are offering deals on haircuts, hair styling and nails, and a number of local restaurants are offering deals on dinner after the dance.

“We had received a lot of positive feedback after our first year,” Truitt said. “We try to touch base with a lot of the businesses every year before this happens. I think all of them without exception have continued their relationship with this event and every year it seems that we get some more businesses that are offering meal-deals or other services.”

Truitt mentioned that he is overwhelmed by the support and the amount of people who come to the dance.

He also thanked to Steenbeke, Young Professionals Vice Chair and local business owner Patrick Bakeman, and Dowagiac Union Schools for allowing the organization to use middle school for the event, the father-daughter dance committee that helps with the “leg work” of putting the event together and all of the other individuals and local businesses that have contributed.

Truitt encourages families to purchase their tickets in advance so that organizers know how many people to expect.

“It has been a very positive event for us and hopefully for the community as well,” Truitt said. “This event is for families to create lasting memories.”

For more information, contact Truitt at (989) 330-4624.