Screams echoed from roller coasters, corn dogs were devoured in record time and phone cameras never stopped flashing—all signs that Grad Bash 2025 was in full swing.
On Saturday, graduating seniors took over both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. for Grad Bash, an annual tradition celebrating the final stretch of high school. The event, exclusive to seniors across the state, brought together thousands of students for one night of thrill rides, music and nonstop memories.
Organized by senior class sponsors Sarah Bearss and Coach Juanita Hitt, the trip gave students the chance to bond one last time as a class before heading into graduation season.
“Grad Bash celebrates everything [the seniors] have accomplished while at Hagerty,” Bearss said. “We hope every student left with a memory that they will hold onto forever.”
Planning the event involved months of logistics, including booking buses, coordinating with Universal, collecting permission forms and making sure everyone followed the dress code and arrival times. While the setup was detailed, Bearss emphasized that it was all worth it to give students a well-earned break.
“This is a tradition that gives the senior class a chance to just enjoy being with each other, no stress, no deadlines–just fun,” Bearss said. “It’s a reward for all the chaos they have to handle during their last year.”
Once at the park, seniors had free rein to ride fan favorites like VelociCoaster, Rip Ride Rockit, The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Most students stuck together in large groups, while others broke off to explore and meet other schools.
While a few of the more popular rides (like Hagrid’s and VelociCoaster) had longer wait times, most lines moved faster than on a typical park day with 20-40 minute wait times, giving students the chance to hop on more rides than expected.
“My favorite part was when our whole group rode the Hulk ride,” senior Eileen Sauvao said. “It was one of those moments where I looked around and realized I wouldn’t get this kind of night again.”
Between rides, seniors danced to the DJ dance parties near the Music Plaza Stage, overloaded on snacks and turned every corner of the parks into a photo op.
“I don’t think I have ever laughed that hard in one night,” senior Ben Nguyen said. “Everything was just nonstop: rides, music, pictures, food. It kind of felt like a teen movie.”
While the night went smoothly for most, a few unexpected moments made the night even more memorable.
“One of our friends got stuck on a ride; we lost two people in Diagon Alley; and someone dropped their corn dog on the ground and still ate it,” senior Aleena Jacobs said. “It was pure Gen Z senior energy.”
Though exhausted when they returned to the school at 4 a.m., students agreed the late night was worth it. With graduation just weeks away, Grad Bash marked one of the final chances for seniors to come together outside the classroom. For most, it was a night that wrapped up four years of memories with one last celebration.
“We were running around the park like little kids all night,” senior Sama El-Sawi said. “It was just chaotic in the best way. And now realizing we are graduating in a few weeks? That part still doesn’t feel real to me.”
