Yuma County Grad Night 2026 offers free, safe senior celebration

Yuma County seniors will have a free, all-night place to celebrate graduation on Friday, May 22, when Grad Night 2026 takes over the Yuma Civic Center from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The event is open to all 2026 graduates in Yuma County and is being promoted as a safe, substance-free alternative to unsupervised parties.

Organizers say the night will include a DJ, games, food and prizes, along with a raffle drawing reserved for Yuma County members of the Class of 2026 who attend and are still present when the drawing happens. One of the biggest prizes is an e-bike donated by Mr. B’s Bicycles, the Yuma shop that sells and services e-bikes.

Donnie Bennet said the bike could have lasting value well beyond the celebration. He said it could help a winner get to work or college and carry supplies, linking the prize to the realities many graduates face after walking the stage.

The Yuma County Anti-Drug Coalition is organizing the event with Yuma CARES, the Yuma County Mental Health Coalition and the City of Yuma. That partnership gives the night a bigger purpose than a party. It is part celebration, part prevention, aimed at giving seniors a memorable place to gather while keeping alcohol and drugs out of the picture.

The event has also become a notable countywide tradition because it returned after a 10-year break. “It’s the second year we’ve brought it back after a 10-year break,” said Joanne Fiser. In 2025, more than 2,600 seniors were expected to walk in Yuma Union High School District commencement ceremonies, underscoring how many local families are looking for safe ways to mark graduation.

Last year’s Grad Night showed the scale organizers are willing to bring back. The celebration featured 3,000 glowing T-shirts, a foam party and more than 150 raffle items. The coalition has said it has grown to more than 150 members, has been active for over 20 years and distributed more than 100,000 pieces of information and resources in the prior year.

That history helps explain why Grad Night has become more than a school notice. In a county where hundreds of seniors are moving toward jobs, college or trade school, the event offers a free celebration that also reflects a broader public health effort, one built around keeping graduates safe on one of the biggest nights of the year.