Dads and daughters can get ready to dance and dine on three different nights during this year’s annual Daddy Daughter Dance at Gainesville Civic Center.

The first dance is for girls in the sixth grade and older Tuesday, Feb. 21. Two days later, girls in the third through fifth grade can dance with their fathers. Fathers can share a magical dance with their daughters who are in prekindergarten to second grade on Friday, Feb. 24.

All the dances are from 6-8:30 p.m. in the ballroom, which will be transformed into a masquerade ball.

In addition, professional photographers will be on hand to take pictures with different price packages. And raffle items will be for sale for $1.

A dinner will be catered by Longstreet Cafe. A DJ will present the music for the dance at 830 Green St. NE in Gainesville.

“They play a lot of the classic hits that the girls and dads love,” said Julie Butler Colombini, Gainesville Parks and Recreations marketing and communications manager. “They combine some new stuff and old stuff.”

In its 17th year, the Daddy Daughter Dance is a long time community tradition for many families.

“We have girls (who) come back from college to dance with their dads. There are girls who come back every year,” Colombini said. “It’s a great memory for the daddies and the daughters. It’s just special for the girls.”

This is one of Gainesville Parks and Recreation’s more popular events, and space fills up quickly. Each night has a maximum limit of people, and Colombini encourages folks to register as soon.

Tickets are $50 per couple for city residents, plus $17.50 additional sibling, and $60 for non-city residents plus $21.50 additional siblings. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. It is $15 extra per person for late registration and only if space available. No walk-ins are accepted the day of event.

For more information, visit www.gainesville.org/special-events.