MARYSVILLE — Registration begins on Monday, Jan. 9, for the seventh-annual Father/Daughter Valentine’s Dance, and while the event is once again set to be split up into two evenings in February with two dances each, city of Marysville Recreation Coordinator Andrea Kingsford warned that those interested in attending shouldn’t wait to purchase their tickets.

“It’s really popular,” Kingsford said of the dances, which take place from 5:30-7 p.m. and from 7:30-9 p.m. on two consecutive Saturdays, Feb. 4 and 11, in the Cedarcrest Middle School cafeteria, located at 6400 88th St. NE in Marysville. “You’ll want to reserve your tickets early, because they sell out every year and they’re not sold at the door.”

Last year’s event drew more than 200 couples for each of the two dances on both nights, and had sold out within two weeks of when tickets first went on sale. The Clear Image Photography and Portrait Studio greeted the fathers and daughters by taking portrait-quality photos of them that would be available at the end of each evening. From there, the couples checked their coats, were able to grab punch and cookies, and joined in on the fun.

Kingsford explained that the dances are open to all ages, and recalled attendees ranging from toddlers to adult women.

“The dads and daughters get all dressed up to the nines, and some of them even go out to dinner that night,” Kingsford said. “I remember one father who attended with both his daughter and his wife, and his wife was there with her father. One father shows up every year with his three daughters, one in her teens and two in their twenties. It’s a wonderful, magical evening.”

Tickets are available for $20 per couple, plus $5 for each additional daughter, and can be purchased at the Parks and Recreation Office in Jennings Park, on 6915 Armar Rd., or online through the “ePlay” service on the city of Marysville’s website at marysvillewa.gov. Roughly half of last year’s attendees registered through ePlay.

Pre-registration is required. For more information regarding the dances, log onto the city website, call the Recreation Office at 360-363-8400 or email Kingsford at akingsford@marysvillewa.gov.