Photos: More than a thousand people attend BART's prom night
Frank Hansen and his partner, Vivian Wong, weren’t able to go to the Benicia High School prom together in 1987, but thanks to the BART Prom, they made their dream come true Saturday night at Oakland’s Rockridge Station.
“I wanted to go to the prom with him in high school, but it took 40 years,” Wong said jokingly. “This is very fun.”
BART’s first-ever prom, which sold out nearly 1,200 tickets in advance, featured food trucks, a lighted dance floor reminiscent of “Saturday Night Fever,” and music by D.J. Billy Vidal and the 1980s cover band “Sixteen Scandals.”
Every ticket included unlimited punch, a BART boutonniere or corsage and a printed prom photo keepsake. The prom theme was a combination of the 1980s and under-the-sea, which led to a variety of colorful outfits. Promgoers cheered and raised their hands each time a train rolled into the station.
Porfirio Rangel and Mary Reyes, of Oakland, were crowned prom king and queen by BART General Manager Bob Powers and Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost after a contest where fans submitted videos of BART “promposals” on social media.
Erin Grassie, and her partner, Eric Lambrecht, of Oakland, dressed in sparkly silver attire and brought their teenage daughters to the event.
“It’s Oakland. It’s weird and wonderful and all of the best things,” Grassie said. “It’s amazing to see everyone out here having so much fun, it’s an incredible vibe.”
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 2:44 PM.