Grad Night FAQs 

What is Grad Night?

Claremont High School has a longstanding tradition dating back more than 50 years of a safe and sober graduation celebration, not just for the kids but for their parents as well. The evening begins with a celebratory dinner for parents and their graduate that includes dancing, family photos and other entertainment. At the end of the night, the parents head home and the graduates are treated to a fun-filled afterparty with unlimited food, games, dancing and a variety of activities and prizes.

When is Grad Night?

The Claremont High School Class of 2026 Grad Night celebration will be held the day after graduation, on Friday, June 12, 2026. The exact timeline is still tentative, but we are currently planning for the dinner portion of the event to begin at 5:00 pm, the bus send-off for the after-party around 9:30 pm, with a return to CHS around 2:30-3:00 am.

Why isn't Grad Night the same day as graduation?

This decision was made for several reasons. For one, by the time the graduation ceremony is over and the graduates are done taking photos on the field and picking up their diplomas, it's LATE. The dinner portion of the evening wouldn't begin until 9 or 10 o'clock which doesn't allow enough time for everyone to really settle in and enjoy themselves. 

Additionally, we've found from past years that the kids are absolutely exhausted on the night of graduation. It's a big day (and week) for them and having a night to rest before the party gives them the opportunity to recharge so they can be ready for the celebration.

Lastly, having it the following day allows graduates and their parents to celebrate with extended family after the ceremony.

Where is Grad Night?

The Grad Night location is top secret! We can tell you, though, that the dinner will not be at CHS and the after party will not be at a theme park. We are planning a traditional Grad Night in line with the pre-pandemic format of the event.

In terms of venues, the dinner venue is within 10 miles of CHS and the afterparty is within 30 miles.

Is Grad Night at Disneyland?

No, Senior Activity Day at Disneyland is on the Monday before graduation and is an ASB event. Grad Night is a completely different event. You can purchase Disneyland tickets through the ASB store here.

Why is the location a secret?

Mainly to avoid contraband or gate-crashing at the event but also to add to the fun of the celebration.

If the location is a secret, how will we find out where to go for the dinner?

We will have a drive-through packet pickup at CHS beginning around 4:45 pm on Friday, June 12. Directions to the dinner venue and further instructions will be included in your packet. Wristbands will be included in your packet as well (and are required for admission) so you will need to pick up your packet in person before heading to the venue.

Do parents have to attend the dinner?

Yes! This night is a celebration for graduates and their parents. Parents deserve to share in the celebration too!

If a parent is unable to attend with their graduate, they must send them with another adult/family.

Why does my graduate have to attend the dinner with a parent/guardian or another family?

The boosters will be attending the dinner as parents and cannot take responsibility for the kids until they get on the bus. We need to ensure that the graduates are arriving to the dinner sober and that a parent or guardian is responsible for them during that time.

Additionally, the Grad Night dinner is a family event so kids attending without their parents will most likely feel a little out of place. We expect the dinner to be a highlight of the event so we encourage you to attend with your graduate if at all possible. 

What is the dress code?

The dinner portion of the event is dressy/business casual. The graduates will have the opportunity to change into more comfy clothes before heading to the afterparty.

Can siblings, grandparents or extended family come too?

We're sorry but the party is reserved for graduates and their parents/guardians only. It's extremely difficult to find a space big enough to accommodate all of our grads and parents as it is and we simply don't have the space to open it up to siblings and extended family in addition to parents. We have space for two guests per graduate and four guests for blended families, though, so you are welcome to fill those spots however you choose, provided one of those guests is a guardian.

Will we get to sit with our friends at the dinner and on the bus?

Absolutely! Seating and transportation cards were included in your Grad Night invitation which was mailed to you in early March. You will be seated as a family but at a table with the family of at least one of your friends. We will do our best to group tables so that the other friends noted on your card are at a table next to or near you. Those of you with twins or triplets, we will work with you to come up with a seating arrangement that works best for your family. 

We will do our best to ensure that you are seated with at least one of your friends, both at the dinner and on the bus.

Do I need to drive my graduate from the dinner to the afterparty?

No, parents will NOT need to drive their graduate to the after party. When we referred to "the party" on the transportation card of the invitation, we were referring to the entire event. The students will be driven by bus from the dinner location to the after party and then returned by bus from the after party to CHS. Parents DO need to drive to and attend the dinner with their graduates and then pick them up at CHS at the very end of the night, which we expect to be around 2:30-3:00 am.

Can my graduate drive themself and/or their friends home after the party?

No. Because it's a liability issue for both CPFA and CUSD, all graduates will need to be picked up at CHS by a parent after the party. If you would like to coordinate pickup with another family, however, you are welcome to do that. There will be a transportation card in your invitation where you can let us know who is allowed to pick up your graduate.

What if my senior wants to attend but we can't afford the ticket?

Contact us! We have been fundraising for three years to ensure that any student that wants to attend is able to do so. We can be reached at our group email address at chsclassof2026@gmail.com or you can reach out to our President, Susan Kent, privately at susanlkent@me.com.

Will the ticket price go up?

Not if we can help it. We have worked really hard over the past three years in order to keep ticket prices as low as possible. With the current economic conditions being a bit unpredictable, however, there is a chance that we may need to adjust prices as it gets closer.

We received our Grad Night invitation but have already made our full donation. Does this mean we need to pay more?

No! We wanted everyone to receive a clean, unmarked invitation. If you've made your Grad Night donation in full or have requested financial assistance, you're all set. Please just return your seating and transportation cards to us at your convenience.

My graduate isn't sure they want to go. Can we sign up the week of graduation?

Unfortunately, no. Space is limited and we will need to finalize our seating chart and give a final count to our caterer at least a few weeks before the party. There will be a deadline for signups at some point in the spring of 2026 with the possibility of selling out.

What kinds of things will we do at the afterparty?

This is still in the works, but there will be a wide variety of activities and entertainment to keep the graduates occupied. Because we know not everyone can handle hours of noise, the venue will feature both indoor and outdoor spaces, including quiet areas and activities for kids who just want to hang out or need to take a break. Our goal is to plan a night of fun with a little something for everyone!

What if my graduate isn't feeling well or isn't having fun at the afterparty and wants to leave early?

Graduates will not be forced to stay at the afterparty if they aren't feeling well or want to leave for any reason. If they choose to leave the party early, however, they will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian and will need to coordinate the pickup with a Grad Night chaperone. We are responsible for delivering every student back to CHS safely and will need to know if a graduate will not be returning on the bus.