Held at the Island Resort and Casino last night, the 2026 Mix and Mingle event came with a “Stars and Stripes” theme, meant to honor hometown heroes.

Police, fire and emergency medical personnel were invited to attend the event and dine for free, out of gratitude for their services.

“Then hopefully they can stay and mingle with everybody, so that way they can see everybody at their best, rather than their worst when there’s a crisis going on,” said organizer Brenda Crow prior to the event.

About 400 guests were expected to attend.

Hundreds attended the Mix and Mingle community event -- Pathways prom -- at the Island Resort and Casino last night. (Irene Pritchard | Daily Press)

In preparation for the event, Pathways and a number of generous community donors — individuals as well as businesses — provided supplies, services and funds to help create a magical night.

People have donated dresses, tuxedos and suits which are now stored at Pathways and loaned out.

“If anybody needs them, they can come in and borrow them, and then we get them cleaned, and then they hang back up for the next person. So we’ve loaned them out to high school students, we’ve loaned them to the senior center — like if they put on a gala event — because buying a dress is expensive,” Crow said. “We get a lot of dresses from mother of the bride, mother of the groom, bridesmaids’ dresses — people donate them.”

In May, Pathways offered a few days for prom attendees to get fitted in formalwear. For years, seamstresses Shirley Benson and Jeannie’s Sewing have made alterations for Mix and Mingle promgoers.

This year, a handful of donations were made in remembrance of people who passed away recently. In memory of Dennis Diener, who liked to sing, former guardian Crystal Sarasin contributed towards the night’s music. The family of Patrick Romps, who reportedly enjoyed a party, donated funds that provided for cakes. The family of Annette Vanlerberghe, who loved pictures, donated money that Pathways used to purchase floral backdrops for event photoshoots.

As stylist Kelly Carlson applies mascara for Leanna Wayno, the back of her shirt announces last night's event: Pathways annual prom, a Mix and Mingle community event, with a "Hometown Heroes" theme. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

The day of prom, two salons opened their doors to provide free services. Stylists pampered the guests, doing their hair, nails and makeup. Delta Hair Company and Cost Cutters catered to promgoers from about 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cost Cutters has been helping out for the Mix and Mingle for at least seven years, staff estimated.

At Delta Hair Company, owner and stylist Christa Madgwick closed the business to outside traffic while she and nine Delta Hair stylists volunteered to donate their time on Monday solely to getting Pathways guests dolled up for the night.

“It just becomes a really special day for all of them, and they look forward to it now,” said Madgwick, smiling as she looked around the salon at the women in chairs being doted on or snacking on the chips and mini sodas provided.

While waiting her turn to be made up, Laurie W�…growski said that she was looking forward to the night, especially dancing.

Annabelle Christie paints Erica Gauthier's nails at Delta Hair Company on Monday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Many people took the DATA bus to the salon. DATA also extended its service for the night in order to be able to transport prom guests from the casino after the event.

At the prom itself, Rosie Durham worked on a live painting, DJ Mike Flavor put on music, Fawn’s Photography and Amp’D UP Entertainment took pictures, and guests had a blast. The casino served a buffet dinner with a chocolate fountain supplied by Sayklly’s. Decorations had been hung by Ever After Decorating.

Overall, dozens of sponsors contributed to making the prom a success.

Donald Young, who has been going for many years, raved about what good work Crow does in coordinating the event. He was pleased to share that when he suggested that Pathways hire an Elvis impersonator one year, they did.

At the first prom, which was held at the Delft nightclub nearly 25 years ago, it was up to Pathways to cook and serve food and do the attendees’ hair and makeup. Now, the combined community efforts of so many parties has made the Mix and Mingle prom a unique event benefiting hundreds of people annually.

Kelly Carlson, a stylist at Delta Hair Company, smiles while chatting and doing a guest's makeup. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

The rear entrance at Delta Hair Company (formerly the Ritz) was highly trafficked yesterday by guests getting beauty treatments ahead of the Pathways prom. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)