By MEGAN HUSSEY
Although generally considered a global celebration of romantic love, Valentine’s Day is evolving to become a family holiday; a chance for parents and children, brothers and sisters, friends and co-workers or schoolmates, to express their care and great fondness for one another.
About 40 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are sent from parents to children (https://psychcentral.com/lib/celebrate-your-familys-heart-this-valentines-day/). And a quick search around the web, and throughout the pages of parenting magazines, will reveal recipes for heart-shaped cakes, patterns for kid-friendly V-Day cards, etc.
Ah, but what about family-friendly Valentine’s Day events? Amongst all of the romantic dinners and dances intended for couples only, where can families go to enjoy V-day in the company of parents and offspring, siblings and friends?
In Spring Hill, The Locomo Skate-Dance Party, 10451 County Line Rd., will host the first annual Bows and Bow Ties Event on Saturday night February 15th. This will be a V-Day celebration for the whole family that will include skating 7-9 pm and dancing, dancing games, and bounce house fun 9-10 pm.
“We wanted to give the community another opportunity to make memories with their children,” said Chris Milano, owner and site manager of The Locomo Skate-Dance Party.
Although schools and other venues sometimes offer father/daughter dances, Bows and Bow Ties offers a more inclusive, holistic approach that encompasses both “dads and princesses” and “moms and princes.”
“Besides going to the traditional father-daughter dance,” said Milano, “this will encompass moms and dads too.”
…and a more fun approach, as well. The dress can be either formal or casual, and the playlist will not be confined to the romantic ballads that one might hear at a typical dance.
“The music will include top 40, old school, kids music, skating songs, and traditional dance music,” said Milano. “We will be giving away raffles and prizes.”
And when it comes to the Bows and Bow Ties event, even the admission prices are family-friendly.
“We wanted to keep the cost down for the community so that all families could afford to attend the event,” said Milano. “Therefore we are offering a $14 pre-ticket price which would include two admissions, two skate rentals, two slices of pizza, and two small sodas. If they decide to purchase tickets the day of the event it’s only two dollars extra, which would be $16.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit The Locomo Skate-Dance Party or call (352) 340-5904.
“Valentine’s Day is a day of warmth in the depth of winter,” writes Marie Hartwell-Weber, Ed.D. at Psych Central.Com “It’s a holiday that gives us permission to be sentimental and gushy; to say out loud or send a message that we love someone special, are thankful for our families, take joy in our friendships, and appreciate the people we work with. Valentine’s Day can be a time to think about who and how we love.” (https://psychcentral.com/lib/celebrate-your-familys-heart-this-valentines-day/).
“Family love,” writes Hartwell-Weber, “is at the top of my list….Valentine’s Day gives us reason to put the family heart in focus.”
