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One last hurrah for Class of 2014

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Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s recent graduates will celebrate Grad Night Thursday.

Graduates of Estancia, Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar high schools will have one last hurrah before embarking on their paths to college or work. Each school will host a final graduation party the night of commencement.

Grad Night was originally promoted by concerns about teens drinking and driving on graduation night.

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“Our goal is to keep them safe,” said Elizabeth Bader, a Harbor parent and Grad Night co-chairwoman.

Harbor is the only high school hosting a celebration on campus.

Estancia and Mesa graduates will spend the night at Disneyland and California Adventure. CdM will host an off-campus celebration at a secret location, according to the school’s website.

Harbor’s Grad Night was created in 1983. Each year, parents of the graduating class raise funds for and organize the event.

This year’s theme is “What makes us Harbor?”

Graduates will enter the party as though they were boarding the Balboa Ferry. The rest of the décor consists of other Newport Beach symbols, such as model lifeguard towers, a sign for the Balboa Fun Zone and murals of the pier.

The graduates will play arcade and casino-style games as well as laser tag. Parents hired a deejay, hypnotist and tarot card reader to keep the graduates occupied until the early morning hours.

“We’re trying to keep them engaged, hydrated and fed until 3 a.m.,” Bader said.

Various local businesses also donated food for the 426 seniors voluntarily attending Grad Night at Harbor.

Chantelle Wolfe, a parent who also attended Harbor, has fond memories of her own grad night in 1987.

“The night means so much more to you later in life,” she said. “It’s one of those things you always remember. When 3 a.m. comes around, you don’t want it to end.”

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