Cookeville Father-Daughter Date Night Going Virtual

Cookeville’s 34th annual Father-Daughter Date Night has been moved to an all virtual event due to COVID concerns.

Leisure Services Recreation Superintendent Cara Sheets said the father, daughter tradition will stay alive with two weeks of alternative events starting Valentine’s Day.

“We really think it is important for the fathers and daughters, especially ones that have attended so many years, to keep the tradition,” Sheets said. “Even though we can not gather in person, we still want everyone to keep that tradition.”

Sheets said social distancing while keeping the integrity of the date nights is not possible. About 1,400 people attend the Leslie Town Centre four night event.

“It was very difficult,” Sheets said. “We’ve put off making the decision as long as possible just to see how the whole pandemic is going, and if it would be a possibility to have it in person. We definitely wanted to.”

Sheets said while plans are not final, participants can expect a series of activities such as scavenger hunts and at home date night ideas. The full outlook is set to be released at the end of January.

“It is definitely not going to be a virtual event where everyone logs in at a certain time and dances with their dad. Nothing like that,” Sheets said. “It will be a series of different things that we release over two weeks.”

Sheets said the 2022 Father-Daughter Date Night should be in person.