The Kwalikum Secondary grad parade is set for this weekend and Qualicum Beach is gearing up to help mark the right of passage.
Grad co-chair Anna Grieve said there is overwhelming support from the community, and it was great to see everyone work together.
"This is a really super grad class to work with,," she said. "They all came together, we had a great decorating committee and the fashion show helped raise a lot of money."
She said that because the money was raised in the community, they have made a point of keeping it in the community, shopping local and trying to hire as many local people as possible as a way to try to give back.
The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. this Saturday, May 31 with the grad parade from the school to the Civic Centre where the prom party takes place.
Grieve doesn't know how many vehicles there will be in the parade, but suggested that most of the 129 grads and many of their dates will likely take part in some way.
"We'll have everything from garden tractors to vintage cars," she said, adding they will have the usual police and fire department escorts and the town will do traffic control, fully supporting the event as usual.
The parade will turn left out of KSS and head up Village Way, turn up Memorial Avenue into downtown and hang a right on Second Avenue for the run into the Civic Centre parking lot and a big red carpet welcome (visit The NEWS' Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PQBNews, for photos from the event).
Students and parents will be welcomed into a mocktail social event before the student party at 8:30, which will also make use of the Ravensong pool this year for the first time.
The theme of the party this year is The Great Gatsby, complete with casino games, a hypnotist and the fashions and activities of the 1920s.
Both KSS and Ballenas Secondary hold their formal commencement ceremonies June 26.