Tickets to the annual All- Night Grad Celebration are officially for sale.

Taking place at Audrey Moore RECenter, at Wakefield Park, on June 17, ANGC is a post- graduation event for seniors consisting of music, games prizes and food. Sponsored by the PTSA, the event is a safe, chaperoned, alcohol and drug- free event that takes place from 11p.m. to 5a.m.

The concept of ANGC was started about 25-26 years ago.  High schools and community leaders were looking for ways to keep their seniors safe on graduation night. According to ANGC Committee chair Lupe Shartel, it began with a handful of high schools and has grown over the years with many high schools sponsoring such events with the support of Fairfax County Fire Department, Fairfax County Police Department, The United Prevention Coalition and many other community leaders.

“The premise is to keep the students safe and avoid any drinking, drugs, “partying” on that night.  We are very much aware of several tragedies that have occurred with graduating seniors partying on graduation night which ended up with lives lost,” Shartel said. “We want to avoid this for our AHS students. Students are encouraged to stay the entire night at ANGC and if they leave, we will call a parent, listed on their ticket form, to advise their student is leaving.”

ANGC raises funds through the AHS Phantom Ball and the Mulch Sale, two annual fundraisers that rely on the efforts of the AHS community to be successful.

“ANGC is sponsored by the annual Phantom Ball, the annual Mulch sale and generous giving by parents of AHS, community donations and other fundraisers,” Shartel said. “It’s a good thing to support this event so that we can provide a wonderful evening for over 300 students each year.”

The Audrey Moore RECenter is closed to the general public on the night of ANGC, making the entire center available for use. Seniors arrive to Audrey Moore starting around 10:30p.m. and check in all belongings.

“There will be an all night buffet for them, a casino, a DJ, a photo booth, all night swimming till 2:30a.m., caricature artists, all night photographer to take photos to post later, arcade games, rock climbing, and much more,” Shartel said. “ We will have prizes to give away throughout the night as well as the big prize and cash drawings at 4:30am. The celebration is over at 5a.m.”

AHS 2012 Alumni Jessica Hotter believes that all seniors should attend the event.

“All night grad offered a wide variety of activities to keep you busy, “ Hotter said. “Time literally flew by and I didn’t even realize what time it was when we were let out!”

Tickets are now $45 and include access to all activities, entertainment, a t-shirt, food and drinks. All students who purchase their tickets after June 1 are not guaranteed a t-shirt, and the price of tickets rises to $60 if purchased at the door the night of the event.

The PTSA is still in search of about 200 volunteers, both parents and faculty who can sign up through annandaleptsa.org and work either  a couple hours, a full shift or all night. Volunteer opportunities include putting up and taking down decorations, working at the prize table, working the casino, monitoring pool activities and much more.

To register to attend the ANGC, visit the PTSA website or the front office for more information.