Adult prom offers food, fun and dance for good cause

When was the last time you had an excuse to let loose and dance or “cut a rug” like cool people said 100 years ago.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, the adult prom will give partygoers the chance to live it up and help a community-based nonprofit at the same time.

“It’s going to be your high school prom but better,” said event organizer Devyn Johnson. “It’s a retro disco, so you can choose any past decade you’d like to dress up as.”

Proceeds from the prom will benefit Wrangell Burial Assistance, an organization Johnson established in 2019 to help people dealing with the costs of burying or cremating a deceased loved one. So far, the nonprofit has distributed thousands of dollars in aid, which has helped 13 families.

About 30 tickets to the adult prom have been sold, which is the break-even number she said. The goal is to reach 50, at least.

“Wrangell does things last minute, so I think a lot (of tickets) will be bought at the door,” she said.

Along with the retro dress and dancing, attendees can expect door prizes, decorations, snacks and baked goods donated by local bakers, and Estevan’s Taqueria will be stationed outside the Elks Lodge starting at 8:30 p.m.

A variety of music will be played by DJ Granny Lu, known to most as Lucy Robinson.

“We’ve had some really great feedback,” Johnson said. “People are excited to dress up, let loose and have fun. And dance. There are not a lot of excuses to dance here.”