Both boys and girls ice-skated and, in between activities, stopped downstairs to grab slices of pepperoni or cheese pizza and paper cups of soda. Every half an hour, they gathered downstairs in hopes of winning a raffle prize.
Overall, it seemed the teens were enjoying the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza at the Raymond Family Community Center on Wednesday night. And many of them attended the event to be with friends.
“I came to party with my friends,” said Kaitlyn Erdman, 13. “I think it’s really fun, I think everybody’s having a good time,” she said.
Taylor Barraza, also 13 years old, enjoyed the dance floor. “I came because I wanted to listen to good music and hang out with my friends,” Barraza said. Samantha Cartwright, 12, was interested in dancing as well. She came “to have fun and dance.”
For the first time since New Year’s Eve Extravaganza began in 2006, it was divided into two nights; Tuesday night was for the older crowd, from ninth-graders to 12th-graders. About 220 teens showed up Tuesday night, said Darin Krueger, director of Williston Parks and Recreation.
That was a good number, although there may have been more if the Williston Holiday Tournament hadn’t taken place simultaneously that night at the Agri-Sport Complex, Krueger said.
As of about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday night, Krueger was certain there would end up being 350 teens who have attended. That would be more than 500 teens for both nights, a total to be excited about, he said.
The Extravaganza began as a way to offer a special event geared toward teens to give them something safe and fun to do while reuniting with friends during their holiday breaks. Since 2006, it’s grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to donations from businesses and individuals, Krueger said.
The local Domino’s and Pizza Hut offered good deals for the event, and both Coca-Cola and Pepsi companies were gracious as well. About 80 large pizzas were delivered for both nights, Krueger said.
Prizes given out included iPods, digital cameras, video cameras and the grand prize for each night”a 26-inch screen television. The total value of the prizes is more than $5,000, Krueger said.
Individuals have helped with the success of Extravaganza by donating their time as volunteers and by giving money.
“We’d just have people stop by and drop $20 (for the event). What do you say to that? That’s awesome,” Krueger said.
Krueger is thankful for his staff and everyone else who has volunteered to make Extravaganza a fun event for teens.
“This is why we do what we do,” he said.
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