Editor’s note: Additional reporting for this story by Samantha Jose and Estrella Jaimes

“HypeFest” is the newest event coming this winter on Saturday, Feb. 4, featuring video games, selfie stations, a hangout lounge and more. 

The dance, which is being planned by the Student Council, will be a new, unique event open to juniors and seniors with a variety of activities. It’ll be held from 8-11 p.m. in the cafeteria, and tickets will be $20. 

HypeFest is intended to be a more enjoyable and laidback experience for students compared to the homecoming dance and prom, so StuCo plans to offer students plenty of options to enjoy.

“There’ll be selfie stations, photo booths, human-size board games, video games, basketball in one of the gyms, an inflatable obstacle course, concessions with pizza, chips and other snacks, and obviously music and dance,” student body treasurer Ethan Cosio said. “And you won’t need to dress up. You can come in just jeans and a T-shirt, still following school dress code, though.”

To help make HypeFest more fun for students, StuCo will need feedback and ideas from the student body. StuCo will take ideas during a special meeting after school on Monday, Nov. 14.

“Any student that would like to come and give input into the HypeFest is welcome,” student activities director Allison Stamey said. “Please come after school at 3:45 and we’ll meet in the Student Council room (G144) and just bring your ideas.”

Students can also email Stamey with suggestions if they are unable to attend the meeting. Stamey said the group is “always brainstorming” new ideas, but school service officer and senior Kolby Blair stressed the desire for input from all students.

“It’s an event for you and your friends,” Blair said. “We’re making this for you.”

One option students can share their opinions on is a “silent DJ option” that StuCo is considering where students wear headphones and can customize their music and dance experience with different channels.

“It can be any kind of music, you can take the headphones and go dance to your own music,” Stamey said. “It’s a pretty big expense, so that is still questionable if we’re going to do that or not.”

Tickets sales will begin on Jan. 17 during lunch in room G144, but Stamey said tickets might also be sold at the door. 

Cosio hopes the variety of choices will attract more students.

“You don’t have to dance,” Cosio said. “You can play video games with your best friend, you can go play Jenga.” 

The officers said they want to have something fun in the winter time to hold over until prom, as it can be a depressing time for some people. They hope this can boost people’s moods and be “the fun element.” 

“You can’t go wrong with a party,” Cosio said. 

The idea initially came from James Hall with DFW Pro DJs who provides the entertainment for both homecoming and prom.

“It worked really, really well at other schools,” Stamey said. “I saw videos so I was like, you know, we need to do this in Lewisville. We definitely do.”

Stamey said it can be challenging to launch a new event students are unfamiliar with, but said she hopes people will give it a chance so it can become a regular event each year. She said they need to sell at least enough tickets to break even and pay the DJ. But the hope is for the dance to raise funds for the account principal Jim Baker uses to help out groups in need around the school. She said if not enough seniors and juniors purchase tickets, the event may be opened up to sophomores and freshmen.

“Give it a chance,” Stamey said. “Come.”

Blair and Cosio said this was a great opportunity for the juniors and seniors to bring everyone together.

“Everyone likes to go out with your friends,” Blair said. “We don’t have a lot of events for senior and junior class at all for our school years. So it’s just another event everyone can get together and have fun with each other, and for the seniors, especially since it’s our last year of high school. You probably won’t see a lot of friends in our later years of life.”