After spending three consecutive years behind strict COVID guidelines, Diamond Bar High School students were finally capable of enjoying a bona fide high school homecoming, without the heavy emphasis on social distancing and other preventative measures like last year’s.
The event was held at Silverlakes, The Backyard in Norco on the night of October 1. The theme for this year was Tangled, however, some students noted that it had a negligible impact on the decor.

“Since the event took place outdoors, we didn’t take regulations as seriously, but students were free to bring masks if that made them feel more comfortable,” USB president senior Joseph Song said via Discord. “Overall, COVID wasn’t a big issue for us during the event.”

The entirety of the event would be hosted outdoors and those who attended had a myriad of activities to indulge in: including a Ferris wheel, an extreme swing ride, karaoke, pool table, ice hockey table, ping pong, corn hole, casino games, a taco truck, an In-N-Out truck, lantern-decorating stations and photo booths—not to mention the dance floor.

“We wanted students to have as much fun as possible, and I think I can say that everyone’s expectations were blown away,” Song said. “What made it more enjoyable was being able to enjoy the good vibes with your friends.”

However, the USB’s main concern was of a potential lower turnout due to rumors that surrounded the event beforehand.
“There was this rumor going around about how we were going to host it on a soccer field,” Song said. “They weren’t really negative rumors, but we were worried it might affect student attendance.”

Along with rumors of the event’s potentially subpar venue, ticket cost was also a topic of concern for students. Many expressed their concerns about tickets costing as much as they did, and some decided that the cost was not worth the risk. 

Compared to last year, ticket prices went up $20, with regular tickets being $95 with an activity card and $100 without one. Those who chose to buy them earlier were given a $5 discount. The reasoning behind the price is due to the venue’s cost and the scale at which the activities would take place; last year’s price increase was also due to similar reasons.

“The price tag made me not go because I could just have a good time at home with friends,” senior Joseph Wangsa said. 

In spite of the potential downsides, the estimated turnout for the event was roughly 1300 students and for many, the event proved enjoyable. The outdoors setting coupled with the diverse social activities compensated for the ticket price. 

“Being able to dance outside was really fun, and it was pretty cool seeing all the lights, rides and how everything was set up,” Song said.