🎓 Dry Grad BC 2025: Why Smithers & Houston Lead the Way

📝 What Is a BC Dry Grad?

A BC Dry Grad event is a fully supervised, alcohol- and drug-free graduation celebration, staffed by parent volunteers and running late into the night, designed to be fun, safe, and memorable for grads and families alike.

1. Community-Led Magic in Smithers & Houston 🎭

In Smithers and Houston, more than 40 parents took ownership—handling audio setups, DIY casino tables, mini-golf, karaoke, escape rooms, silent DJs, and laser-tag. Only high-tech activations were outsourced.

That presence created unbelievable energy and jaw-dropping moments, proof that real magic happens when communities power the night.

Grads freaking out and having a great time after watching Kel

2. Smart Budgeting = More Impact 💡

• Houston chose low-cost, home-style buffet dinners.

• Lower Mainland grads often shell out for fancy hotels like Fairmont or Sheraton, shuttles, and high-end catering—yet spend less on entertainment that really clicks.

• Smithers purchases and acquires the games that they are able to operate on their own, only outsourcing the highly specialized activations. Games like Mini-golf, Casino tables, and Lawn games get stored at the school.

Focusing budget on impact, rather than appearance gives grads an experience that genuinely resonates.

3. Austerity vs. Overspend: The Houle Games Effect 💸

Houle Games rental pricing highlights how costs pile up:

• Slot machines with attendant: $499–699 m.yelp.com+1houlegames.ca+1houlegames.ca+1eventective.com+1houlegames.ca

• Casino packages (fully serviced): Expect $500–1,000+ per table station houlegames.ca

• Inflatables & carnival games: $59–499 (bouncy castles start at $225–299) houlegames.ca+1houlegames.ca+1

These add-ons—while fun—can lead to tables full of idle dealers and empty games when parents rely on low-cost rental staff. In Richmond, I’ve seen that firsthand: dry grad nights with DJs playing, dealers twiddling thumbs around empty tables. Unexpectedly quiet.

4. Entertainment to Respect the Audience

Let’s be blunt: these are grads, not toddlers. Hypnotists performing cringe-worthy skits in front of smartphones risk long-term embarrassment. In 2025, that’s not entertainment, it’s a liability.

Conversely, a skilled magician can deliver respectful, awe-inspiring experiences that are viral for all the right reasons.

A recent quote from one of our parents from an event we just did.
“An amazing experience so professional, absolutely jaw‑dropping magic… highly recommend, looking forward to seeing him again.”
— Jeremy Barker, Smithers Secondary parent

https://youtube.com/shorts/OYGEf3LdBkg

5. DIY Casino = Engagement Over Expense

Instead of underpaid, uninterested dealers, why not train parents and grads to run casino tables? I even step in with a 15-minute magic break-show, keeping energy high, participants involved, and the night flowing while parents can give themselves a break from dealing.

Passive entertainment like silent, twiddling dealers kills momentum and morale.

6. Location Is Everything

Downtown Vancouver venues lead to inflated budgets and direct comparisons to corporate goliath’s. The best nights in Smithers and Houston were local, heartfelt, and cost-effective and budgets reflected that. It also allows for the prize pools to be bigger.

7. Regional Snapshots

To be clear, I respect every parent working tirelessly on a Dry Grad. It’s hard work, no matter the scale.

But regional strategies differ wildly:

RegionApproachResult:
Smithers & Houston - DIY, community-powered, intentionalHigh energy, heartfelt engagement.
Lower Mainland - Vendor-dependent, glitz-firstRisk of empty tables and missed moments

🔧 Final Thought & Call to Action

Hats off to Smithers and Houston parents, You built Dry Grads that thrill, connect, and don’t break the bank.

To future committees:

• Rally your community

• Choose vendors who add value (here’s a picture of an empty casino table. that’s your dollars)

• Protect grads from cringe and empower them with respect

With 25 years of Dry Grad stage mastery behind me, I’d love to help you build your most intentional, unforgettable event yet.
visit https://www.kelmodernmagic.com/dry-grad-1 to learn more