PHOTOS: Record-breaking 1,000 dads and daughters attend 2026 Snowflake Ball

It's a tough world these days.

So it’s pretty great when something comes along that just feels right.

And in Penticton, one of those somethings is the Snowflake Ball Daddy Daughter Dance.

Concocted in 2017 by two Penticton moms – Kori Iceton (also the co-owner of The Hub on Martin) and Dana Chapman (Family Navigator of the Penticton YMCA Early Years Program) – the non-profit event was designed to bring dads and their daughters together for a few hours of laughs, kid-friendly dancing and activities, and a great meal.

And of course, bonding.

It was an instant sensation. And it’s become even more sensational and even more popular ever since.

This past Sunday the latest iteration of the Snowflake Ball unfolded at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. It was, as usual, sold right out. That's the way it’s been for some time.

Back in 2017, the event launched at the Penticton Seniors' Drop-In Centre. And 170 dads and daughters answered the bell.

A couple years later it had outgrown the Drop-In Centre and was moved to the substantially more spacious Lakeside Resort.

But it didn’t take long to outgrow that venue too. At its height at the Lakeside, the Snowflake Ball attracted more than 500 people.

So in 2025, Iceton and Chapman made the decision to step into one of the biggest spaces in town – the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. And attendance nearly doubled – to 920.

This year, a stunning 1,000 attendees showed up and the event set another record. Even the cavernous PTCC seemed packed.

"Dana and I did a girls' night out with friends and Dana said she'd seen a similar event in Calgary," said Iceton of Snowflake Ball's origin.

"So we got our inspiration from that. It was something that had been done before, but we took it and made it our own. It's our big community give-back."

Iceton believes there are plenty of reasons for the event's incredible popularity.

One, she says, is the time of year. There's simply not much happening locally in late winter.

And the price, she added, is right. This year, a father and daughter paid $65 for a ticket to the three-hour event. Extra daughters were $25.

"And the ticket is all-inclusive," explained Iceton. "There's a great dinner and desert (the latter courtesy of Lickity Split Ice Cream). There's non-stop dancing. There are crafts, there are cool photo ops from Amuzing Fun Rentals, there's a glamour station where dads and daughters can put make-up on each other and Penticton royalty help out.

"And there's much more."

According to Iceton, who claims the organizing team relies on word of mouth recommendations over pricey advertising, entry affordability is paramount.

"We want this to continue to be an accessible event for everyone," she said. "So over the years we've reached out to the community and got sponsorships that have grown.

"This year it was businesses like Patan Heating and Air, Penticton Hyundai and Penticton Honda and Wella's Whimsy balloon décor. It wouldn’t be this accessible without them."

But why an event focusing on the father-daughter dynamic?

"It's the idea that a father and a daughter can spend some quality time together uninterrupted," answered Iceton.

"Sometimes dads are busier and don’t always get that one-on-one time. So it’s nice to have a focus on just that relationship. It's important for the development of the young ladies in our community."

For more info on the Snowflake Ball Daddy Daughter Dance, which will come around again in about a year, email the organizing team at snowflakeballpenticton@gmail.com or check their Facebook page here.