On Saturday night, April 11th, juniors and seniors arrived at the Petersen Automotive Museum for “A Night in Monte Carlo,” Flintridge Prep’s 2026 prom. Upon arrival at the museum, students checked in with teachers, and were taken to an elevator which lifted them up to the venue: a whole floor of the museum. Decked out with every type of automobile imaginable, as well as the history surrounding them (including a life-size Lightning McQueen, the truck from Twilight, and the Batmobile), the mood of the night was set from the first step inside. 

Students were handed red and black tokens branded with “Monte Carlo, Flintridge Prep Prom 2026” to use for gambling at the roulette tables set up around the museum. Of course, Prom would not be complete without a photobooth and an assortment of fun props in addition to a lit up dance floor and DJ. Tables were littered with drinks such as Shirley Temples, lemonade and sparkling water, and full of various dips, breads, chips, and veggies, as well as sliders and chicken skewers. There was even a table for dessert lovers, including macarons, lemon squares, cookies, and strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows to dip into a warm bowl of chocolate. 

As the night went on, many people took to the dance floor, singing, dancing, and shouting the lyrics to classic beats from Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift. For many juniors, this dance marked a huge milestone in high school: Prom. Not to mention, it was only a couple of hours away from the stressful pre-AP season! For seniors, making the most of their final prom was especially important, as many prepare to leave for college across the country from their best friends. For them, Prom marked the bittersweet end of high school.

As senior Bahia 26’ recalls: Prom was fun!! The DJ (sometimes) took song requests and the dance floor was pretty consistently full. The photo booth was a really nice addition, too. We successfully corralled my physics and Spanish classes for group pictures. 

Prom felt significantly different from other dances like Homecoming and Winter Formal. Besides the fancy venue and food, this event felt much more intimate. As the night winded down, students spent their last minutes taking final photos with friends in front of the cars, having one last dance on the dance floor, and grabbing a few cookies for the road. This year’s prom marked a night full of memories and joy, where upperclassmen were able to experience their first and last prom simultaneously, on one night in Monte Carlo.