FOBS to host second annual community prom

The Friends of Bigfork Schools will reach for the stars, this Saturday, when the group hosts its second annual community prom at the BruMar Estate just outside of Bigfork.

This year’s prom boasts a nostalgic Montana-style theme, “Starry, Starry Nights,” which should fit well into the rustic setting of the 4,000 sq. ft. Lodge at BruMar Estate, with plenty of “Big Sky” over head.

And whether that means they get to be stars for a night or are just looking for an occasion to light up someone’s life, event coordinators say the prom is one more way they hope to make Bigfork a closer community.

Organizers of the event say they also wanted to emphasize a sub-theme of “Rewound, Redone and Remade,” which means the community is being encouraged to “rewind time” and make the prom as they envision it, past or present.

“We really want to encourage people to come dressed the way they want to dress,” FOBS board member Diana Rahdert said. “We put some suggestions on the flyer as to what they could wear without having to adhere to a certain dress code. They can go retro, vintage or they can go with the more modern styles. Jeans are totally welcome. It’s redone, rewound, come as you want.”

Suggestions for the ladies include everything from sassy cocktail dresses to elegant ball gowns, “little and black, or full of glam and bling.” For the guys, Rahdert says lapels of any size get a big thumbs up, whether it’s a tuxedo or a zoot suit, but pretty much everything goes, from western to metro to — for those Travolta fans — disco.

Rahdert took on the daunting task of organizing this year’s event, with help from fellow-FOBS members Shannon Barrett and Mary Knoll. After the success of last year’s prom, which didn’t draw the crowds that the group initially hoped but gained a lot of attention and a favorable reception from the Bigfork community, FOBS felt strongly that they needed to hold another prom this year.

“Those that came last year had a really good time,” Rahdert said. “Word spread, and we had people say after they heard about it that they regretted they hadn’t come. We’ll definitely have tickets at the door, because we know that people in Bigfork make last minute plans.”

In fact, the group felt strongly enough about making the prom a regular event for the community that they decided to proceed with their plans despite a lack of funding. Rahdert said, with the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts undergoing a major renovation and the group’s inability to find an alternate location of sufficient size, FOBS will not be able to hold the event that has proven to be their biggest fundraiser, the Cowabunga Variety Show.

However, with less funds available, Rahdert and the other FOBS volunteers are hoping that the community will step up in support of this year’s prom. Although the cost of admission is $25 per person, the FOBS is challenging local businesses and supporters to become $100 sponsors. The sponsorships will include two tickets for admission and special recognition at the dance.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance at Local Joes or RE/MAX, and all ticket sales will help support the groups ongoing efforts to better Bigfork’s schools, making the community’s youth the ultimate beneficiary.

More than just a fundraiser, however, Rahdert said the prom is a special event that is lacking in most communities around the Valley.

“It’s a great way to bring the community together and have a really good time,” she said. “I think it’s a unique event that we don’t really have here in Bigfork or the Valley, except for in Columbia Falls, where they do put on a community prom. I just think in Montana, we don’t have a lot of events where you can get dressed up and dance, other than the bar scene, which a lot of people don’t want to do.”

With more interest this year, Rahdert said FOBS has even planned a traditional prom picture for couples who come to the event, which she hopes will serve as “a fun momento that they can take home with them.”

“We’ve set up a backdrop, just like they do at the high school prom, that will be theme related,” she said.

The picture will be included in the price of admission. That, Rahdert said, makes it worth the effort for the women to convince their men to make it a special night and put it on their calendar.

“The guys are a little hard to convince,” she said, “but the ones who came last year had a really great time once they got there. I think, if they come, they’ll definitely have a good time.”