For more than 75 years, May Day has been a tradition at Columbia High School. After a hiatus and an adjustment during the pandemic, the event has returned to full force and will be held on Sunday, May 1, in the gym at Columbia High School, 901 Ironville Pike. The celebration will begin at 7 p.m.

"This year marks the 77th year," said junior Emily Gambler, who is helping to organize the event. "May Day celebrates the coming of the spring. It brings together the community, students and parents."

As Gambler explained, each year, a junior and a sophomore work alongside each other and a committee filled with members of the community to plan May Day. "In this event, seniors get chosen by their peers to participate in the May court," Gambler noted. "The girls choose a male senior to escort them. They participate in a waltz dance."

Members of the May Day court are Morgan Bigler, Sarah Hollerbush, Brynn Spiese, Shai Madison, princess Isabelle Redding, Alayna Morales, Kylie Aston, Leah Fry and Sidney Berntheizel. Their escorts will be Luke Redding, Joel Ober, Robert Footman, Andrew Eitnier, Drew Paules, Noe Moreta, Collin McCarty, Israel Perez and Ethan Schmitt.

Additionally, students of the senior class at Columbia vote on a May queen, who is announced before the waltz, and then students from Columbia School District are invited to dance in a traditional maypole dance. "This engages students of all ages in the tradition," Gambler noted.

Each year, the committee also chooses entertainment for the court. "This year, students from Columbia High School will be singing," Gambler remarked. A baton performance will also be spotlighted.

The May Day committee extends an invitation to the community to attend and support the celebration. There is a fee to attend, with separate fees set for adults and for students and seniors.