Graduation season is upon us, and party planning is in full swing. Whether you are a college graduate or a high school student celebrating your entry into adulthood, Virginia Beach offers plenty of ways to kick off the festivities.
For hard-working students, graduation parties signify freedom from books and papers and mark the end of laborious years of learning. Graduates can kick back with their degrees in hand and have a blowout of a celebration with friends and families as exams are finalized and their move toward a career begins.
The ultimate backyard party
Trends in graduation parties are steering close to home as, Joanne Daugherty, owner at Affordable & Luxury Event Rentals, said most parties are happening right in the backyard. Rental of tables, chairs, and tents are soaring with several reservations already in the books.
“It’s very busy for most rental companies,” said Daugherty.
While backyard parties are common after a graduation ceremony, there is a twist that is making this year’s events particularly surprising for graduates.
“This year there’s a lot more surprises, so families going off to the graduation and the kids will come back, and they will have tents set up and a whole kind of surprise celebration in the backyard,” said Daugherty.
This can make it a challenge for Daugherty as they have a limited amount of time to get set up before the graduate returns home from the ceremony for the party.
“That can make it a little bit difficult because it gives you a short window of time,” said Daugherty. “They want it all setup and ready to go in the backyard because people are pulling up right after.”
Her crew begins the party set up, the moment the graduate leaves for the ceremony so families can have the big reveal after that infamous cap toss.
Taking the party to the park
Many graduation parties are also taking place in area parks as graduates are able to invite more guests as well as partake in the springtime weather. These outdoor events are quite popular as Julie B. Braley, public relations & content manager at the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation said this is a busy time of year for bookings.
“Parks are a wonderful place to celebrate milestones with your loved ones – including graduations,” said Braley. “We are so lucky in Virginia Beach to have such a wide variety of park spaces available for these types of memorable events.”
Parks such as Bayville Farms Park, Mount Trashmore Park, Red Wing Park, and Little Island Park are filling up quickly with reservation dates. Mount Trashmore, for example, doesn’t have an opening until Thanksgiving, according to Braley. Woodstock and Munden Point Parks are also popular choices for venues in Virginia Beach.
The park system offers the perfect venue for graduation parties as there are 41 rental shelters on site for groups as large as 100 people. “Not only do you get to enjoy the beauty and fun of a park, you don’t have to worry about cleaning your house before all your guests arrive,” said Braley.
Making it an eating event
Some graduation parties are happening at many of the local restaurants as The Public House Reservations Manager Joe Costa has seen a surge in reservations recently. Located just down the road from Old Dominium University and Eastern Virginia Medical School, Costa said many come right after the ceremonies with family and friends to begin their celebrations with a meal.
“They’ll come around different times,” said Costa. “A lot of lunch ones depending on the time of the graduation ceremony. Some will wait more until the evening to have their celebrations with family offsite before they get their food and sometimes they’ll come at night.”
The Public House has two party rooms that they section off for a more intimate gathering, providing catering or off the menu items to guests. With specialties such as mac-n-cheese, wings, and chicken tenders, it offers a casual dining environment where graduates can relax for a well-earned meal.
Costa recommends making a reservation so they can have the space prepared for your party and this also gives them the opportunity to handle any special requests.
Restaurants are a popular choice for graduation parties as much of the planning for the event is handled by these establishments, allowing parents and families to celebrate without worry about supplying food, drinks or location.
Room for everyone
Even local hotels are getting in on the graduation action with room bookings increasing for out of town guests. The Springhill Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront is able to take advantage of its close proximity to the Convention Center where many of the high school graduation ceremonies take place.
“Our hotel is less than a mile from the convention center, so sometimes we will see an uptick for those graduation weekends for any family members that are coming from out of town to witness the ceremonies,” said Brittany Nosay, director or sales at the Oceanfront.
The Oceanfront also has banquet rooms available that graduates can book for parties.
