Dancing Days Are Here Again: Two Favorites Return to Burlington's Social Calendar
Spring means Prom Season — and Burlington delivers a night to remember for more than just BHS juniors and seniors.
As Burlington steps into spring and the social calendar begins to fill again, one group is already shining up its dancing shoes. And no — we’re not talking about high school seniors. At the Council on Aging, a different generation is preparing for one of the year’s most anticipated evenings: Senior Prom.
Open to adults ages 60 and up, the annual event welcomes singles, couples, widows, and widowers alike for a night of dinner, music, and dancing, said Council on Aging Director Marge Yetman. For many, it’s more than just a date on the calendar — it’s a chance to reconnect, to reminisce, and to create new memories alongside neighbors and friends.
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Dolores Christiansen, now 90, remembers attending the 2023 Senior Prom with her husband of 53 years, Carl.
“I was playing BINGO with some ladies when Marge announced Prom, and I told them, ‘Let’s go!’” she recalled.
The ladies looked at her like she was crazy. “At our age?” they said. “What will we even wear?”
“I told them to just be yourself,” Christiansen said. They did — and by the end of the evening, she didn’t even mind that a disability kept her and Carl from dancing. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said, “because we had the opportunity to meet other couples and share our lives with them.”
Though she attended her high school prom in Shirley, Carl — a retired Burlington police officer — did not. That made it all the more surprising when the couple was crowned Prom King and Queen in 2023.
“It was quite unexpected,” she said. “Without the Senior Center, we’d be lost. At our age, to still be part of something — it’s just wonderful.”
This year’s Senior Prom will take place on April 2 at Café Escadrille, with tickets available through the Council on Aging.
Across town, another much-anticipated prom is also on the spring calendar — one with its own joyful twist.
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“Sneaker Prom sparks joy year after year within the therapeutic recreation community.”
- Emma Andrus, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
On May 1, the Recreation Department will host its annual Sneaker Prom at Grandview Farm. Designed for individuals with disabilities, the event offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where attendees can dress up, lace up their favorite sneakers, and enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and connection. Guests are welcome, and the focus — much like Senior Prom — is on fun, friendship, and community.
Emma Andrus, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, is excited to see how the event has grown over the last eight years. “In the weeks leading up to the event, buzz starts building on what the theme will be, how the decorations will be featured, and what activities will be added,” she said. “Sneaker Prom sparks joy year after year within the therapeutic recreation community.”
Sneaker Prom tickets are available through the Parks & Recreation registration portal.
In Burlington, prom isn’t just a rite of passage reserved for teenagers. It’s a reminder that celebration, connection, and a good dance floor have no age limit — only an open invitation.
