Rad grads: Sober graduation parties a North Idaho tradition

One of the most important academic events and rites of passage for American teenagers is followed by an evening they'll never forget — graduation night.

Since at least the 1980s, parents in Kootenai County have thrown safe and sober parties for their graduating seniors, offering a place for the kids to celebrate their accomplishments without drugs or alcohol, or the temptation to drink and drive or get in the car with friends under the influence.

"The vast majority of our class went to that party," said Brenda Nearpass, of Coeur d'Alene, who graduated from Coeur d'Alene High in 1988. Nearpass and her classmates belonged to one of the largest, if not the largest, graduating class at CHS, when only one high school served all of Coeur d'Alene and students went to school in two shifts to accommodate for the lack of space.

Even so, most of Nearpass' graduating class went to the sober grad party at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, where dancing, casino games and wheelbarrow races made for a wild night.

"We knew there was going to be all those prizes and food and dancing," Nearpass said. "We knew it was going to be a lot of fun."

Now a longtime tradition for local high schools, the drug- and alcohol-free celebrations began because of tragedy.

"It started because kids died the night of graduation because they went out partying to celebrate," Nearpass said. "These parties started because of this type of thing."

According to a Jan. 7 forbes.com article, about 6% of teens surveyed in a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey said they drove while drinking within the past 30 days, and 17% of teens surveyed admitted to driving in a car with a driver who had been drinking. In 2018, 29% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-impaired crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Since those early days, parent committees work together, beginning early in their children's high school careers, to raise money, collect donations and prizes and go all out for when their seniors graduate.

The all-night safe and sober parties are completely handled by the parents, with no school dollars spent as they rent out venues such as the fairgrounds, Triple Play and the Kroc Center. The parties can cost as much as $40,000, but if you ask any of the parents, they are worth every penny.

"For me, it’s the final thing I get to do for my daughter for her high school career, and for her to be able to go and celebrate all the hard work she has done over these years and just to have a blast and let go," said Nearpass, who is a 2023 lead parent organizer for Lake City's party, which will take place at the Kroc Center until 2 a.m. and will feature casino games, popcorn and cotton candy machines, dorm room prizes, cash and more.

"They finally get to go out and party, but in a safe way," she said. "It's that last time they're going to be able to do any bonding with a lot of their fellow students. Really, I can remember crying the night of mine, because I knew there were a lot of kids I was never going to see again."

Coeur d'Alene High holds its main flower sale fundraiser for grad night when the seniors are juniors. This year's party, complete with a hypnotist, photo booth, mechanical bull and gladiator jousting, will also be at the Kroc Center.

"We give away tons of fantastic raffle prizes, we'll have a DJ and dance floor, duck races in the pool and swimming," said Janel Fraser, parent representative for CHS. "We have a casino so they gamble with Viking Bucks and turn them into raffle tickets and for prizes."

CHS will give away more than 100 raffle prizes, such as dorm refrigerators, a $500 airline ticket, a ski package and more.

Out of 353 graduating, Fraser said the Coeur d'Alene parent committee is expecting 300 students will attend.

"It's one last hurrah with their friends, it's a safe and sober environment," she said. "We've been doing it 45 years. It’s been a local tradition for CHS to host."

The parties cost little or nothing for students to go, and those who stay all night will qualify for a chance to win a car during Knudtsen Chevrolet's annual high school car giveaway at the end of the school year.

"If it can save one kid's life, it’s so worth it," Fraser said. "You can’t put a price on that."

Angel Donneen, a lead parent organizer for Post Falls High, recalled her grad night in 1996.

"I was not like my children. I was not a social butterfly at all, I was worried about going," she said. "I remember all my years up until senior year, hardly anybody signed my yearbook, but that night everybody sat down with each other and appreciated each other."

And, as teens do, an epic dance party took place.

"We had the craziest dance competition, and I remember jamming out to Vanilla Ice," Donneen said.

The casino-themed Post Falls grad night at the fairgrounds will include food trucks, a mobile coffee stand, a 360-degree camera and prizes will feature kayaks, big-screen TVs and dorm room necessities. Post Falls will host events leading up to graduation night to continue raising money for this year's seniors and help next year's get a jump-start on their party.

"The community is awesome, they really have supported their seniors this year, and we so, so appreciate that," Donneen said.

Timberlake High School will host its party at Triple Play, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Usually, about 100 students attend grad night. Timberlake has held grad night parties since at least 2012.

"It’s a last big hurrah," said Timberlake parent organizer Katrina Auger. "They get to have fun and celebrate together in a safe environment without drugs and alcohol. My daughter is so excited about the prizes and to hang out with her friends all night."

Timberlake High School will present the Tiger Country Hoe Down Dinner and Auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $40 each and include social hour, dinner, dessert and a live auction.

Lake City High School is hosting a spring craft fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 at the school, 6101 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene. At least 40 different vendors will be on site, offering handmade craft and garden items. Entertainment will be provided by elementary schools special choruses.

All proceeds will benefit the drug-free grad night party for the class of 2023.