3. It’s a day for people to showcase themselves.

Jorgensen emphasizes that Dapper Day is not Halloween – in other words, it’s not a day to put on a costume or a mask. Showing off personal style is encouraged, as are dress blues or service uniforms worn by active or retired military members. Some good places to find a wide variety of vintage and contemporary looks are ModCloth, ASOS, Forever 21, Zara, H&M, Pin Up Girl Clothing and Suitsupply, as well as thrift shops and consignment stores.  

4. It’s free (with theme park admission) – and there’s no special ticket required.

It doesn’t even cost an extra $6.50 per couple to attend Dapper Day – all a guest needs is a valid theme park admission (which, admittedly, does cost a bit more than $6.50 these days) to join the fun. But guests should also plan to get up early to get dolled up and ensure that they have a spot in the park for the event, as the celebrations frequently lead to park closures because they reach full capacity. (Some associated events, like the FOLLY after party, do require a separate admission, cover charge or reservation.)

There are also discounts provided to Dapper Days attendees, such as convention-rate tickets when possible, in California and Florida.

5. The celebration will just keep growing.

Dapper Day events are usually held about five months apart, with one day held in warmer weather and the other in cooler weather at each location. The next “Dapper Day at the Parks” are set for Saturday, April 16, at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, and Sunday, May 1, at Disneyland in California, with the Dapper Day Expo at the Disneyland Hotel set for April 30 and May 1. The dates for the fall and winter events for 2016 haven’t yet been released. 

Jorgensen has said he plans to expand the expo (with possible versions of it coming to Florida and Paris, along with other new events unique to those locations), and of course there’s Dapper Days-themed merchandise to be found on the event’s official website.

Dapper Day proves that teens in the ‘50s (or the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet today) aren’t the only ones who could dress stylishly at the parks. Anyone can don a vintage-inspired outfit and some smart accessories and feel like they’re traveling back in time in a most dapper way.