With the theme Big City, Bright Lights and a dazzling venue at Knott’s Berry Farm, this year’s Winter Formal proved to be an unforgettable evening full of shimmering lights, great music and plenty of photo opportunities. Hosted by the Woodbridge High cheer team, the event took place on Feb. 1, 2025.
Winter Formal, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the school year, brought together students for a glamorous night out. The theme, Big City, Bright Lights, offered a sleek silver vibe that set the stage for a spectacular celebration.
Hosted at Knott’s Berry Farm, the venue transformed into an urban-chic atmosphere, decorated with shimmering lights and silver accents to create a breathtaking cityscape. This stunning backdrop added to the excitement, ensuring the night would be memorable for all attendees.
Event planning had been in full swing for months, with the Woodbridge High cheer team taking the lead. The planning process started with brainstorming the theme and decor, followed by working out all the details.
“We always start with the theme, then move on to the decor,” varsity cheer captain and senior Isabella Anderson said. “After that, we
focus on the specifics.”
The cheer team worked together as a unit to organize everything.
“It’s a lot of teamwork,” senior cheerleader Mackenzie Gaughan said.
Along with finalizing the theme and decorations, the cheer team organized various aspects of the event, including ticket sales.
“We split into smaller committees to focus on specific areas, making sure the event appeals to students and increases ticket sales,” Anderson said.
A significant part of Winter Formal’s success is the support from cheer parents and families, who play a key role in the execution and management of the event.
“Our parents are fundamentally who put on the event,” Anderson said.
Freshman cheerleader Yasmin Noory explained that parents play a big role in the event by making decorations and being at the event to manage it.
When it comes to ticket sales, both the junior varsity (JV) and varsity teams share the responsibility.
“Both JV and varsity sign up to host ticket sales during the weeks leading up to the event,” Gaughan said.
This ensures that every cheerleader is directly involved and actively contributing to the success of the event.
In addition to ticket sales and event planning, the funds from Winter Formal go toward supporting the cheer team’s competition season and other essential needs.
While the cheer team was focused on making Winter Formal a success, Gaughan mentioned some of the challenges they faced.
“One of the hardest things is getting all the students to want to attend Winter Formal since not everyone is interested,” Gaughan said. “But last year, when we moved the venue back to Knott’s Berry Farm, more people showed up, and it turned out great.”
Food and refreshments were also available throughout the event to keep everyone fueled for hours of dancing and socializing. The cheer team worked to provide a variety of options to accommodate different dietary needs.
Events like Winter Formal bring the student body together. For the next event, upperclassmen can look forward to prom in the upcoming spring season.
