On January 23rd, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Bernards High School will host the Night of the Stars at Bridgewater Manor for its senior class. Night of the Stars is a free senior-only dance, held by BHS annually to celebrate the seniors and bring the soon-to-be graduating class together with a celebration featuring dinner, a DJ, and plenty of opportunities for photos.

What makes Night of the Stars different from other dances is that all the students come dressed in costumes of characters and celebrities. Students can do solo and group costumes, all of which are eligible to win awards at the event. In past years, students have come dressed as many different iconic characters and famous public figures, spanning from the Disney princesses to the South Park characters to the Kardashians. 

Lorelei Traynor ‘26 shares her eagerness to see everyone’s costumes, “I’m really excited to see what costumes everyone comes up with, and I’m excited for everyone to see what I’ve come up with.”

Night of the Stars is an event that is organized by BHS’ Project Graduation 2026, which is a branch of Bernards Home and School Association. Composed of volunteer senior parents, their job is to fundraise for and plan events to celebrate the graduating class. Night of the Stars is just one of the many events that is put on by Project Graduation, with some of these other events including the Senior Barbeque, the Senior-Faculty luncheon, and the Last Blast celebration to follow the senior’s graduation.

With the event approaching, excitement has been building among the seniors. Jessica Fu ‘26 shares her excitement for the celebration, “I’m really excited for Night of the Stars because I think my costume is really good, and I’m excited to be matching with all my friends,” adding, “I’m also excited for the food and just like the kind of the start of semester two of senior year.” 

Sean Griffin ‘26 concurs, saying “I’m going to be dressing up as men in black for night of the stars with my friends, and I’m really excited to have a fun time and see what everyone else can come up with.”

As the second quarter winds down and the second semester begins, Night of the Stars marks the beginning of celebrations for the future graduates. With costumes, music, and food, the event offers seniors a chance to take a break from academics, celebrate together, and create the first of many lasting memories before graduation.