We’ve lost so much over the past couple of years that it can feel like nothing will ever be the same again. But it’s my job this week to remind you that some of the very best parts of life, like the magic that can happen between fathers and daughters at the Shamrock Ball, haven’t gone away.
This was my fifth year to take photo portraits at the annual father-daughter dance put on by the town of Farragut and the Kiwanis Club of Farragut. Each year, I’ve had the same experience – by the end of the night, my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Most dads (probably at the insistence of moms) get their portraits made as soon as they arrive at the dance. This is wise, given the prevalence of chocolate and exuberant dance moves at this event. Almost everyone has upscale attire, but some girls put on the ritz with sparkly floor-length gowns, tiaras and full makeup. There are preteens who are trying out heels for the first time, and tiny girls in Disney gowns. A few sport eclectic outfits that they chose themselves. But the dresses aren’t the most striking thing these girls wear – it’s the glow that comes from being the center of Dad’s attention. From the youngest to the oldest, these lucky girls are radiant.
This is not to say that everyone is completely comfortable with this formal event. It’s obvious that some dads aren’t used to being on their own with their daughters. The girls can also feel awkward, especially if they’re adolescents. They opt to stand beside Dad for photos rather than sit on his lap. Others, like the father and daughter who posed with him perched on her lap, are entirely comfortable.
“Whatever she wants,” he said with a grin.
Even those who are a little stiff at the beginning of the evening loosen up on the dance floor. Smaller girls get tossed and swung around, and older teens try complicated shag moves. By the end of the evening, the tiny girls are asleep on Dad’s shoulder. It’s a joy to behold.
It’s no wonder that the Shamrock Ball is a tradition for many families. Holly Layman, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Farragut, helped plan the first ball. Her husband, Marty, brought their daughter Olivia, who was 2, to the very first dance, and it’s been a family affair ever since. Olivia, who will graduate from Farragut High School in May, ran the chocolate fountain this year with friends.
“It’s bittersweet, but I’m thrilled she still wants to be part of it all,” Holly says.
She’s glad that so many in the community have made the Shamrock Ball an annual ritual.
“Lots of fathers and daughters come together for this event. It’s an opportunity for bonding time that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
The 2020 Shamrock Ball was the first to be held in the Farragut Community Center, and all events were shut down just a few days later. There was no ball in 2021. This year’s Shamrock Ball felt like a marvelous return to normalcy for the staff, and from what we saw and heard, everyone in attendance felt the same. It gives me hope for our families and our future.
Town of Farragut marketing and public relations coordinator Wendy Smith is your reliable Farragut insider.