We have a sock hop every year and everyone loves it but the people who are in charge of it, including the free DJ, are quitting this year. No one has stepped up to take it over yet, so I wanted to know how to do any easy and fun free school wide activity. If I think I can pull it off, I'll volunteer. They are willing to change it, but the dance is very well attened. Teachers said they saw parents who had never before stepped inside the school come.

I don't see why you have to change it. You should be able to find another DJ that would donate their time. Then put together a new committee to oversee the dance. You'd have to put together a committee to oversee a new activity. Why would it be any different?
Not all events are successful but you know this one is and popular too.
Do you have any ideas to keep it alive?

I guess I just didn't know how to do it. And since they said it could be changed, I thought I might offer to do some thing I do know how to do. But now that I've been thinking about it, I might figure it out.
Our group seems to have an issue with handing over complicated projects to people who don't know what's expected without much support.

Our PTO has sponsored a Sock Hop for several years, but it started to get too wild (too many poorly supervised kids) and families were ready for something new.

So, we switched to a Bingo Night. It is way less work and a far better FAMILY night since the kids actually sit with their parents for a couple of hours rather than run all over the school. It's good for all ages, even Grandparents. We provide a simple dinner, about 1 1/2 hours of games, and a few door prizes. The teachers volunteer to take turns calling numbers. Clean up is a breeze, and everyone is home by 9:30 - even the committee!

Our school held a Family Sweetheart Dance the Friday night after Valentine’s Day. Flyers were sent home and the dance was mentioned during the morning school announcements. The teachers decorated the room with the Valentine decorations used earlier in the week throughout the school and classrooms. The admission price was $3 per person and children under 5 were free. We brought Polaroid film and created picture holders using cardstock, a heart stamp and a silver inkpad. A few of the parents volunteered to be the photographer and the families paid $5 for a memento photograph. . The PTA sold refreshments: sodas and bottled water, pizza, chips. We hired a DJ for $250 and at one point in the evening the kids had to dance with their parent/grandparent/guardian. Everyone that attended received a piece of chocolate candy. Many of the family came dressed to the nines. The families had a good time, which was the most important thing, and the PTA raised a few hundred dollars as well.

Our school does a soc hop for the kids just before the holidays. The admission charge is ONE new toy for our local charity toy drive.

I don't see why this wouldn't work as a family night as well?

And if DJ's know this is a charity event, I think they would be more likely to donate their services.