Aasmia Ali
Staff Writer
Costa’s annual Winter Formal is just around the corner, and it will be a night of dinner, dancing, karaoke, a photo booth, desserts, and more. This year’s “Blue Bird Bash” will be held off campus at Sonesta Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 7-11 p.m.
Unlike other school events such as Homecoming or Prom, Winter Formal has historically low attendance. This year, the event requires a minimum of 250 students to attend in order to break even. The minimum was set to ensure the event remains maintainable after previous years of financial loss, prompting administrators to question if it should continue.
Planning for Winter Formal begins months in advance, starting with the selection of a theme. ASB members brainstorm names, write them down, and vote.
“We found names and wrote them down,” said ASB sophomore Conway Free. “We discussed things and all voted on the ones we liked the most. We’re also all required to go.”
After that, much of the responsibility of the planning process shifts away from the students. Due to the dance being held off campus, coordination with the hotel and outside vendors plays a large role in organizing the event. Students say their involvement is more limited in comparison to other events like Casino night, where ASB members arrive early to help run and set up the event.
“In entertainment, we’re responsible for selling the tickets,” junior Ciara Stone said.
This year’s ticket pricing reflects the push to make the event more affordable. Tickets are sold in three-priced tiers between Jan.7th and 26th, with discounts for students with ASB markers. Single tickets start at $62 with a marker and rise to $76; couple tickets range from $124 to $152 depending on timing and markers.
Contrary to the number of tickets sold in more popular events like Homecoming or Prom, Winter Formal finds it difficult to meet a similar head count of students. Those events generate anticipation, visibility, and a sense of shared participation.
“I’m not really planning to go, none of my friends are,” stated sophomore Ganga Thai.
Other aspects of the event, including setup and coordination with vendors, are handled externally due to the location. Hosting the dance off site, rather than at Costa, also affects how many students are able to attend.pace, cost, and transportation become important factors that are less critical for school-based events.
As Costa continues to hold onto long-standing traditions, this dance reflects the larger challenge of how to maintain school spirit. Events are designed to try and bring students together, but they are also becoming more limited. As the dance grows smaller, the bigger question may ask what Costa is trying to preserve: the tradition itself, or the sense of togetherness it was meant to create.
With different schedules, interests, and priorities across campus, not every event is meant to appeal to everyone. Whether the dance draws a larger crowd or stays smaller, it will still remain part of the school’s efforts to create shared, memorable experiences for students each year.
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