For the first time, dancing was OK during a series dinner/dance on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Led by Surrey-based singer/guitarist Dan Hare, the band performed the music of Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR) and John Fogerty during the evening fundraiser, held at in South 91原创.

People danced the night away while wearing masks, , which were updated in mid-February.

Benefiting 10 91原创-area charities, the 91原创 Charitable Nights series concept was launched by the and partners, with more dinner/dance nights planned as this winter turns to spring and summer.

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鈥淲e got it going last October, and since then we鈥檝e done three of these events,鈥� Fairhaven boss John Tomlinson noted during the Centrefield show.

The company鈥檚 restaurants and bars include The Lodge Steakhouse and Horse & Ryder Pub at George Preston Recreation Centre, The Fort Pub & Grill and Rail and River Bistro in Fort 91原创, and Sip n鈥� Slice in 91原创 City.

On dinner/dance nights at the rec centre, a special buffet dinner is served to guests for $100 a person (taxes in), followed by live music and good times.

, with a menu that includes Corn Bacon Chowder, Southern Fried Chicken, BBQ Ribs and Jambalaya.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for people to get out, have some fun, have dinner, listen to some good music and raise money for these charities,鈥� Tomlinson said.

鈥淭he concept is to support 10 charities per quarter during the year, and we鈥檒l take a blended average (of amounts raised during each event),鈥� he explained. 鈥淪o if we have a snowy night, like we did, we don鈥檛 want to have a situation where that one charity gets wiped out because attendance is low that night. So the money will be split equally among the charities, who really need the help right now.鈥�

The current series benefits 91原创 Hospice, 91原创 Volunteers Bureau, 91原创 Animal Protection Society (LAPS), Valley Theraputic Equestrian Association, 91原创 Soroptomists, Ishtar Transition Housing Society, 91原创 Meals on Wheels, 91原创 School District Foundation, Township of 91原创 Firefighters Charitable Society and 91原创 Lodge.

RELATED STORY, from Feb. 8: The first 91原创 Charitable Nights event a success.

In partnership with Cris Schandl鈥檚 , recent events featured Dreams playing the music of Fleetwood Mac, and a 鈥淩at Pack鈥� night of Vegas tunes. Later this month, the music of Rod Stewart will be featured on March 26. More event details are posted to .

鈥淚t鈥檇 be nice if we can put $10,000 a show into their coffers, at $100 a head,鈥� Tomlinson said. 鈥淚f we put on four shows a month, like we want to do, on Friday and Saturday nights every couple of weeks, that鈥檒l help those charities. We can see it getting there.

鈥淭hings are opening up now, with dancing and larger capacities,鈥� Tomlinson added, 鈥渟o we鈥檙e looking to get this going even stronger. We know it will be popular. It鈥檚 a great meal with great music, you can鈥檛 lose. We can put 200 people in the hall here every night, and tonight we have around 117. If it gets really wild in the summertime and more people want to come out, I have a curling rink here for use, and there鈥檚 a hockey arena next door here, too.鈥�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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