Prom may be a one-night event, but an entire year of planning and hundreds of volunteers go into putting it together.

While Dartmouth High School’s class of 2016 was out enjoying their prom night on June 2, hundreds of parents and teachers across the district volunteered their night to transform the gymnasium into a glamorous backdrop for the classmates' last night together.

“We want them to have the time of their lives,” said Michele Lyons, one of the after-prom coordinators.

For the last 23 years, the after-prom preparations have been spearheaded by Kathy Gaspar, her husband Steve, and Lyons.

Gaspar found a pressing need for a committee to not only put on after-prom, but to ensure the safety of the students.

As a student at Dartmouth High student, her daughter Jennifer had attended a party following prom, and Gaspar had been assured by the parents of the student throwing the party that there would be no alcohol. This proved to be untrue.

After that, the Gaspars and Lyons came together to create a committee to create a safe, fun, and memorable after-prom for their students. The group quickly gained traction, and many familiar faces lend their time each year to keep the tradition.

Despite the level of commitment, every after-prom has proven to be a satisfying and lavish experience.

“It’s a gift from the community,” said Theresa-Marie Pimental, a long-time volunteer.

Though parents and even siblings pitch in, it wasn’t just family helping with after-prom preparations. Several people—whose kids have long since graduated—keep with the tradition of putting after-prom together, and dozens of community members pitched in to donate prizes including TVs, drones, mini-refrigerators, a Macbook, and even a kayak.

“Everyone will go home with something,” said Lyons.

Hollywood was the theme of the night, and so the gym was filled with sprawling backdrops of the Hollywood sign and paparazzi with their flashing cameras. The hallways were plastered with posters of Hollywood blockbusters, as well as a giant reel of film with the photo of every senior in each panel. Gold stars and tassels dangled from the ceiling.

When students arrived in their gowns and tuxes, the transformation had yet to happen. By the time they arrived at the school at 11 p.m. for after-prom, the gym was filled with eight inflatable pens, tarot card and palm readers, caricaturists, an airbrush tattoo artist, a raffle table, and all the food they can eat.

“If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right,” Lyons said.

After more than two decades of coordinating prom, the Gaspars and Lyons are retiring. However, no one has stepped forward to fill their shoes.

Kathy’s advice to the person or people looking to take the mantle is “Get a lot of good people to support you. Lots of people with good imagination.”