The Drug Free Coalition of Suwannee County is hosting an after prom party for high school students in Suwannee County who attend the prom April 1. The party, held at Club Revolution at Melody Christian Center on US 129 S, starts at 12 a.m. and lasts until 5 a.m. The idea is to provide a fun-filled alternative to parties with alcohol.

Drug Free Coalition volunteer Steven Schneitman, who graduated high school about five years ago, remembers the pressure students are faced with to drink on prom night.

“When I was in school, after the prom everyone wanted to do something,” Schneitman said. “A lot of kids don’t want to go to a party with drinking involved but they’re pressured to have plans.”

Schneitman said by signing up to attend the after prom party students can “look cool” because they already have plans.

During the event at Club Revolution a disk jockey will provide music throughout the night and a snack bar with pizza, sub sandwiches, barbecue and all types of sweets will be provided.

“Basically, everything unhealthy to eat will be here,” Drug Free Coalition Director Mary Taylor said.

Schneitman said he doesn’t want students to think the party is a church event because of the location, because it’s not. They chose Club Revolution because of its nice facilities. The facility is set up like a teen club and has a steel cage basketball court, air hockey, pool tables, ping pong tables and a snack bar set up with booths.

Many events are planned for the night. There will be several organized tournaments with prizes up for grabs for team and individual winners. Included is a three-on-three basketball tournament and soccer, foosball, ping-pong and pool tournaments. Some of the upper-scale prizes for the winners include an Ipod, a digital camera, a TV with a DVD insert, an Xbox and Wild Adventures tickets.

Schneitman said, as the night rocks on they will award increasingly more expensive prizes to entice students to stay until the party’s end.

At the prom, students who plan to attend the after prom party can obtain tickets free of charge to present at the door at Club Revolution.

Officers from the Live Oak Police Department and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and school personnel will attend the party to serve as chaperones and back up.

“We’ve gotten so much support from the community and from businesses who donated prizes. I hope our students realize how much the community truly cares about them,” Taylor said.