Frequently Asked Questions
DATES: Saturday, January 30 & February 6, 2027
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center City Side Ballroom
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center City Side Ballroom
TIMES: Ticket table opens at 4:45 pm.
Ballroom doors open promptly at 5:00 pm.
Please be seated by 5:30 pm for a short program.
Sit-down dinner service begins promptly at 5:45 p.m. The ball ends at 10:00 p.m.
You will be greeted by staff wearing Father Daughter Ball name badges. Please ask them for directions.
WHERE: City Side Convention Center at the DECC (Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center) in the Lake Superior Ballroom. Located on the second floor at the top of the escalators and to the left. There will be signs posted with directions from ramps and entrances.
Parking DECC parking lot or ramp. Cost is $10 per vehicle. You may drop off and pick up your daughter at Entrance "B".
TICKETS: $35/person. Transferable, but non-refundable.
Starting at 4:45pm, your tickets will be available for pick-up at the "WILL-CALL" tables at the bottom of the escalators and stairs at Entrance "B".
Watch for the signs!
Reserved Seating: If you purchase a table, please pick up all the tickets for the table and hand them out to your guests.
**Please fill out your section of the ticket and have it ready to present at the ballroom door when entering. If you reserved a table, your ticket envelope will note your table number; your meal tickets will be inside - please display those on your table for the DECC staff.
DADS: Please keep your tickets in your pocket. You will be asked to show your ticket to the FDB Staff each time you re-enter the ballroom. This is for safety reasons.
Ballroom doors open promptly at 5:00 pm.
Please be seated by 5:30 pm for a short program.
Sit-down dinner service begins promptly at 5:45 p.m. The ball ends at 10:00 p.m.
You will be greeted by staff wearing Father Daughter Ball name badges. Please ask them for directions.
WHERE: City Side Convention Center at the DECC (Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center) in the Lake Superior Ballroom. Located on the second floor at the top of the escalators and to the left. There will be signs posted with directions from ramps and entrances.
Parking DECC parking lot or ramp. Cost is $10 per vehicle. You may drop off and pick up your daughter at Entrance "B".
TICKETS: $35/person. Transferable, but non-refundable.
Starting at 4:45pm, your tickets will be available for pick-up at the "WILL-CALL" tables at the bottom of the escalators and stairs at Entrance "B".
Watch for the signs!
Reserved Seating: If you purchase a table, please pick up all the tickets for the table and hand them out to your guests.
**Please fill out your section of the ticket and have it ready to present at the ballroom door when entering. If you reserved a table, your ticket envelope will note your table number; your meal tickets will be inside - please display those on your table for the DECC staff.
DADS: Please keep your tickets in your pocket. You will be asked to show your ticket to the FDB Staff each time you re-enter the ballroom. This is for safety reasons.
SEATING: Open seating for eight at each table on a first come first serve basis. Inner tables around the dance floor may be removed after dinner to enlarge the dance floor area - these tables will have signs. If you reserved a table, your ticket envelope will note your table number. Your meal tickets will be inside - please display those on your table for the DECC staff.
We begin our evening promptly at 5:30 pm, please be seated by this time.
Professional Portraits:
Lynnette's Portrait Design will be offering portrait packages for purchase. Pictures will begin when the doors open at 4:00pm in the French River Room - located on the second floor across from the ballroom. They will close briefly for the dinner hour 5:15~6:15 so dinner can be served in a timely manner. Pictures will then resume and go through the early part of the evening. The DJ will make a couple of last-call announcements.
Tips for Portraits:
Arrive early for the shortest wait – all are welcome! Portraits begin at 4:00 PM.
Dads with younger daughters are especially encouraged to come before little
ones are tired and hair looks its best.
For little ones, bring a small bag with books, coloring, quiet activities, or
enjoy a walk around the DECC while you wait for the Ball to begin.
The longest lines happen immediately after dinner.
If the line is long, consider coming back later; the DJ will announce when the line
is short. The DJ will also make a last call announcement for pictures, so no one misses
out.
Portrait prices
*** SAFETY RULES*** At the request of the Father Daughter Ball Coordinators and the DECC Staff, we ask that you keep your daughter supervised at all times. As the DECC is open to the public, we cannot keep our event private & totally secure. Your daughter(s) may not use the elevator or escalators without your presence. Please discuss this before arriving. We will be checking your tickets upon arrival and each time you enter and exit the ballroom. DADS: Please keep your ticket in your pocket. You will be asked to show your ticket to the FDB Staff each time you re-enter the ballroom. Again this is for safety reasons.
MENU: Chicken served with salad, veggies, rolls & butter, and dessert.
If you have any special dietary requests, please indicate those requests when you purchase your tickets online in the comment section. A special meal ticket will be issued to you at Will Call when you pick up your tickets to present to the DECC staff when seated at your table.
MUSIC: Music is tasteful and fun. You will recognize many familiar and old favorites! Be ready for the Limbo and the Chicken Dance.
ATTIRE: This is a special occasion and an opportunity to wear your "Sunday Best". Daughters usually wear dresses - some come in gowns. Fathers often wear dress shirts and ties; suits are common attire (even a few tuxedos). Coat check available to the left of Entrance “B”, Split Rock Room (at bottom of escalators).
DOOR SERVICE: Our volunteers will be available to stand and wait with your daughter(s) at Entrance “B” while you go to park your car or to pick it up after the event - Volunteers with Father Daughter Ball LOGO NAME BADGES will be posted at this door - speak with them directly. Again, the drop-off and pick-up location is Entrance "B"- Bottom of escalators.
WASH ROOM ATTENDANTS: We will not have attendants at the restrooms. We ask that you use the family restroom with your daughter if she needs your assistance. Staff wearing a Logo badge may be available to assist you if there is a special need. Thank you for understanding.
*** SAFETY RULES*** : At the request of the Father Daughter Ball Coordinators and the DECC Staff, we ask that you keep your daughter supervised at all times. As the DECC is open to the public, we cannot keep our event private & totally secured. Your daughter(s) may not use the elevator or escalators without your presence. Please discuss this before arriving. We will be checking your tickets upon arrival.
Dads, please keep your ticket in your pocket. You will be asked to show your ticket each time you enter and exit the ballroom. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but we would rather error on the side of caution than have an incident. We thank you in advance for your compliance.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: If you are interested in financially partnering with our ministry or giving a gift in kind, or sponsoring a MN Adult and Teen Challenge father and their daughter to attend, please contact us to request information. Any remaining funds from this year’s event will go directly back into the ministry for next year.
LOST & FOUND: Items found during the event are usually brought to the information table outside of the ballroom. Please check there first. We will then bring these items periodically to the DJ to announce during the evening. All items remaining after the event will be placed in the lost and found at the DECC. You may call the DECC at 218.722.5573 the following business day to claim your items.