Post Prom Moving Back to Festival Hall

After moving the annual festivities out to the Sturtevant SportPlex in 2012, Post Prom will once again rock the house at Festival Hall.

Racine Rotary made the announcement Friday. Prom is scheduled for Saturday, May 18.

“We are happy for our partnership with Festival Hall in creating a memorable Post Prom for the community,” said Claudius Adebayo, club president, in a written statement. “Our goal in these 60 years has been to offer a safe way for our community’s young people to mark their graduation accomplishment.”

Several factors went into the decision, the release states, including that the SportPlex has grown and is being used for a variety of purposes that complicated Post Prom planning. More than 1,700 students attended Post Prom in 2012 from nine high schools.

Rik Edgar, executive director of Festival Hall, is also happy about the plans for Post Prom to return to Racine.

“Ultimately, this is about the kids, so we're looking forward to working with Rotary to make this a night for them to remember," he told Patch.

Sturtevant Interim Administrator Mary Cole said it's disappointing that the party has to move because the feedback she heard was that the SportPlex had the size for all the activities and is a great location that allowed students from Union Grove to attend.

"We want what's best for the students and for Rotary, too," she said. "It just seemed like this was a good place because of its size and where it is meant they were able to invite students west of I-94 as well."

While it will be a bit longer of a ride, students from Union Grove are still going to attend, according to Rotary member Laura DeGroot.

"They'll have to take a slightly different route, but they will attend," she said. "We're pulling together our student groups now, and Union Grove is on our list."

Everyone is excited about moving back to Festival Hall, DeGroot added.

"We feel a lot of positive energy from everyone about the change," she continued. "We're all very excited after being away for a year."

To help raise money for Post Prom, Rotary is hosting Prom 'N Aid on Feb. 9, a night they're billing as "a formal evening of music, dancing and fun for adults."

The event runs from 7 - 11 p.m. at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St. Admission is $35 and includes appetizers, one complimentary drink, a cash bar, a silent auction, door prizes, and live music by the George Busateri Group. Ticket order forms are available online at: http://www.rotaryracine.org. Call (262) 498-9425 for more information.