Steamboat Springs — Prom-going juniors and seniors will once again ditch their tuxedos and gowns after the dance at Perry-Mansfield Saturday to head to an all-night after prom party at Steamboat Springs High School.

Final preparations are underway for this year’s event, which runs from 11:45 p.m. Saturday to 5:30 a.m. Sunday with the theme “A Night in Tahiti.”

Parent Lori Livingston, who is chairing the drug- and alcohol-free event for the second time this year, said planning has been ongoing since September.

“It’s really important because the kids are pretty excited after prom, and this gives them somewhere to go that is safe, and drug- and alcohol-free,” Livingston said.

Kids aren’t allowed re-entry once they leave the event, which helps keep teens from drinking and driving, Livingston said.

“It’s a safe, contained environment where they have a lot of fun,” she said.

The first After Prom took place in 2000, and Livingston said she’s heard from Yampa Valley Medical Center that After Prom has helped turn Steamboat’s prom night into a non-emergency night for the hospital.

“It has really cut down the number of hospital visits that evening,” she said.

The event is sponsored by community donors and partners and will include sumo wrestling, a dodgeball game with cash prizes, craps, roulette and blackjack tables and several photo areas.

Hypnotist Michael DeSchalit will also perform.

More than 200 prizes worth about $9,000 have been donated by business and community partners to give away to students, Livingston said.

“It’s a 100-percent community sponsored event,” she said.

A water tank from the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council will also cut down on the number of plastic bottles and cups typically used by students at the event, Livingston said.

About 400 students are expected to attend After Prom, including juniors and seniors from Steamboat Springs High School, Steamboat Mountain School and Heritage Christian School, as well as their dates.

Setup for the event takes place all day and into the late evening Friday and wraps up Saturday afternoon, Livingston said. The gym will also be open for the public to view from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

It typically takes about 100 volunteers to get the gym decorated and set up, and Livingston is still looking for more community members interested in helping.

Those wishing to volunteer can sign up by visiting the After Prom Volunteer Spot page at vols.pt/4qoRLt or by calling Livingston at 205-401-5784.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow