LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – This year, the homecoming traditions at Los Alamitos High School saw major changes: the dress code changed from semi-formal to casual, and the dance — instead of taking place on a Saturday, the day after the homecoming football game — was held immediately after Friday’s game. These shifts sparked many mixed reactions, with many students expressing their disappointment.

One of the biggest changes at homecoming this year came with the dress code. For years, homecoming provided students with a chance to dress up in semi-formal attire, making the night feel like a special occasion. However, this year’s dress code shift left many students frustrated. For those who looked forward to the tradition of picking out dresses, suits or formal clothing, this change was a major loss in the excitement surrounding the night.

“Most people don’t get to wear a nice dress every single day. No, for most, it’s three times a year: Homecoming, Winter formal, and Prom. So why make homecoming casual wear?” Natalia Sandoval Velazquez, an LAHS junior, said.

When the theme, “Party in the USA,” and the suggested casual attire were posted on the @losalofficial Instagram, many students reacted poorly and felt disappointed by the news, feeling as though the theme and random dress-code change were random and badly executed.

“My most honest and polite opinion on the dress code? It was absurd. Semi-formal: I can get on top of that. But wearing jeans and a tube top? Why even bother paying 50 dollars to attend? At that point, go to a house party,” Velazquez said.

The other major dances of the year are winter formal and prom, both with a formal dress code; these are only available for upperclassmen to attend. Homecoming provided all students at LAHS with an opportunity to get dressed up with their friends, and this opportunity being taken away so suddenly led to some disappointment within the lower grades.

“I thought the theme was fun, but many of the people I talked to wanted to dress up, since there are no other chances to do so for underclassmen,” Lillian Ha, an LAHS freshman, said.

The reactions amongst grades differed, as many freshmen who felt excited for their first-ever high school dance experienced many changes that didn’t match expectations, and many seniors felt disappointed by the sudden change in routine that affected their last-ever homecoming dance.

One exciting and fun aspect of the back-to-school season is the “homecoming weekend.” After a week of fun themed dress-up days, students look forward to the football game on Friday, which is full of school spirit, and the homecoming dance the following day. This setup gave students sufficient time to rest in between events and get ready for homecoming with their friends. However, this year, the homecoming game began on Friday, September 19, at 7 p.m., and the dance commenced immediately after the game, concluding at 11:30 p.m. With both events falling on the same day, back-to-back, many felt affected by this change.

“Timing-wise, it was pretty late, and my friends and I got tired at the end,” said Ha, who attended both the football game and the dance.

More students attended the football game than the dance, and spirits were high at the game, in which LAHS’s varsity football team won.

“They oversold the game, so there was no room to walk or stand, and the dance was the opposite; it was fairly empty,” Bremser said.

While the new dress code, back-to-back scheduling and other changes sparked mixed reactions among students, the night was still a success. The homecoming dance had a TK Burger food truck, a candy bar and plenty of themed decor. The dance was held in front of the STEM building, where a DJ and dance floor were the main attractions.

“ASB was really excited to test out new things for this year! I loved having it right after the football game because it felt exciting the whole night,” Adrian Lopez, LAHS Junior Co-President, said.

With differing reviews lingering, this year’s homecoming leaves LAHS students wondering what future homecomings may look like. No decisions on permanent changes have been made, but the ticket sales and mixed reactions are key determinants in the future of LAHS’s homecoming dances.