Staff and students gathered at Grand Empire Banquet and Convention Centre on December 6th, 2024, for North Park’s annual Semi-Formal, an event looked forward to by students of all grades. Ticket sales opened a month prior starting at $55 for North Park students and $65 for plus ones. The marketing, memories of last year’s Semi-Formal, and promises of dancing underneath the stars, fuelled the hype leading up to the event, which reached its peak as the doors of Grand Empire Banquet Hall opened at 6 PM.
This year’s Semi-Formal boasted a night of dancing under the stars, with an expanded menu including butter chicken, shahi paneer, vegetarian pasta, and many other items. Unlimited drinks, a live DJ, and the return of a complementary photo booth was also offered. The photo booth came complete with a backdrop and photo strips to commemorate the event, as well as a rotating camera platform to produce trendy short form video content for social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram.
Once inside, students were greeted to a scene meticulously crafted by the North Park Student Activity Council and supporting faculty, complete with table decor and ambient lighting in which students could immerse themselves. Students celebrated the night with their peers with games and activities including guess the song and musical chairs. Victors of these games were awarded with an exquisitely designed trophy featuring shooting stars, reflective of the night’s theme.
After dinner, the lights turned down and the music turned up as the party went into full swing. The live DJ played crowd favorites and song requests, bolstering everyone to head to the dance floor. The DJ kept the music going and the crowd moving with tracks such as Travis Scott’s Fein, DJ Casper’s Cha Cha Slide, and Justin Bieber’s Baby. Students and faculty alike partied until the night was over.
From the amazing food and the incredible decor, to the lively crowd on the dance floor, the event was sure to be unforgettable. This year’s Semi-Formal was a night of fun for all and one many will remember fondly as they look forward to next year’s Semi-Formal, a night that will shine brightly as Polaris in the minds of many at North Park.
THE NORTH STAR 