Colonia High’s homecoming took place on October 3, 2025. The dance has been a part of CHS’s fall traditions since 2023. High schools around the country began the tradition in 1920.
Outfits
Students who are attending homecoming are getting ready to look their absolute best. For the girls, that means a semi-formal dress—typically short or knee-length cocktail dresses, A-line styles and or fit-and-flare designs. Popular styles among girls include: satin dresses, sparkly sequin dresses and even floral prints. But the real question is, how much are these dresses costing high school girls? Most teens are purchasing their dresses from websites such as: Windsor, LuLus, Oh Polly and even Macy’s. Most girls spend anywhere from $30 to over $500 on their perfect dress. For a guy going to homecoming, the cost for his outfit is usually a little bit lower than the girls. Most of them can pull the pants, shoes, tie and button down right out of their closet, but if you need to buy anything brand new, expect to spend anywhere from $60 to $150.
Ticket cost
At Colonia High School, the ticket price is $10. This does not include food and drink; it only permits your entry into the dance. If you’d like to purchase food, there is a separate fee ranging from $1-$5. The average homecoming ticket in other states ranges anywhere from $15-$40.
Make-Up, Hair and Nails
A basic manicure typically costs around $25 to $40, while gel or acrylic sets usually range from $60 to $80 without design, and a fill is typically an additional $50. If you decide to get professional hair and makeup together, they can cost around $100 to $250, depending on location and stylist. Most girls choose to do it themselves or ask a family member for help. This can bring the cost down to just the price of a few drugstore products. If you decide to get your eyebrows done, that can cost an additional $15-$20.
Dinner plans
Most students decide not to eat at the dance, besides a few light snacks or even just a drink. They instead go out to dinner, Mariella Spina states, “My friends and I would rather go out to dinner after the dance and get the food we actually want. We are probably going to go out to dinner at Chili’s after. But I know a lot of kids in our school are going out to places like Buffalo Wild Wings or Applebee’s after.” If you’re eating at a casual restaurant like the ones mentioned above, you might spend around $20 to $30 per person. A more upscale dinner could be closer to $50 or more per person with drinks, appetizers, and dessert.
Flower arrangements
Corsages and boutonnieres are traditional for most couples. However, they aren’t a required part of making your night a great one. Most teens now skip over that part, and rather than making their date go out and buy a corsage and/or boutonniere, they make a bouquet or flowers at home. You can find affordable flowers at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s or Wegmans for a price of $15-$25. Some even opt for fake flowers from websites like Amazon. If you do opt for a corsage and/or boutonniere, the cost of these items can range from $20-30.
What is the total cost of attending homecoming?
When adding the price of everything together, the total cost can range. A student can spend anywhere from $85–$300 for everything they deem “necessary” for homecoming. Here is a general breakdown for one CHS student, Aylen Lizuna: “My dress was around $90, I would say, and since it was black, I wanted to have a pop of color, so I bought pink high heels. I think the price of my shoes was around $35. Even though you don’t need a bouquet, I wanted one; it totaled to around $25. And since I only attended CHS’s homecoming, my ticket cost was $10. To finish out the night, my friends and I decided to go to Chili’s. There I spent around $25.” Overall, Lizuna spent $180, which is the average cost and a good depiction of what it’s like to be a high schooler attending a school dance like this one.
