Guests attending last year's Father-Daughter dance celebrate during the balloon drop.

LIVE OAK, Fla. — Encircled by his three daughters, Len Stapleton was surrounded by smiles in a photo at last year’s Father-Daughter Dance.

It was a picture of happiness.

And wasn’t just a normal posed shot either, Stapleton insists.

“Those smiles you see right there, they’re not just for the camera,” said Stapleton, who attended for the first time last year with his daughters Aubrey, Alexis and Nicky. “That’s what all the girls you see that night are like.

“It’s just a good time. And it’s a good time for the dads.”

Those smiles, that fun is what the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce is looking to create once again June 16 at the third annual dance at the Suwannee County Coliseum. The event will last from 6-10 p.m. and tickets are $25.

The memories, though, are priceless. Which is why the Chamber continues to push for holding the event.

“This event is different from our other events,” Chamber Executive Director Jimmy Norris said. “It’s something that we give back, that we want to do and share it with the community.

“We felt it was a needed piece, something that was lacking in the community and if you attend the event and see the connections between the dads and the daughters … if it just makes a difference in one, or two, or three people’s lives, for me that’s why I’m so passionate and sold on it.”

Stapleton, who is also the event’s chair, added: “It’s about community with this event. It’s about families.

“This one, this is the one event that warms your heart.”

In fact, Stapleton wasn’t the lone first-time attendee moved by last year’s experience. Alison and Jeff Scott attended for the first time with Jeff’s daughters Joy and AnnMarie.

They enjoyed the experience so much that Cheek & Scott is this year’s title sponsor.

There will be plenty of ways and opportunities to make those memories as well. In addition to a night full of dancing with DJ Salt Life, Chuck Burnett, handling the music, the candy bar and chocolate fountain are returning once again.

And after trying a sit-down dinner a year ago, this year’s event is moving back to finger foods with pizza from Little Caesar’s, chicken fingers and wings from Zaxby’s as well as some hors d’oeuvres from 11th Street Kitchen. Norris said the change comes as a way to free up more time for dancing, particularly for the younger daughters that are anxious to get moving.

“We loosened it back up a little bit,” he said.

This year’s dance will also feature a dance competition with awards for best dancer among the daughters as well as fathers. The criteria for choosing the top dancers, though, is still being determined.

“We don’t just show up, we show out,” Chamber President Brandon Fernald said about the dance contest.

The Chamber plans to show out once again with its balloon drop. After featuring 300 balloons the first year, it doubled that a year ago. This year will again have at least 600.

“I don’t think nothing about balloon drops,” Stapleton said. “But girls think a lot about balloon drops.

“They go crazy. It is something to see.”

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber, 212 N. Ohio Ave., or by contacting Karen Hurst at the Chamber at 386-362-3071. A limited number are still available. The Chamber also has a few tickets available for families in need.