Graduates from Morristown East, West and Lakeway Christian and Tabernacle Christian Academy made a beeline to College Square Mall Friday evening for a safe graduation celebration for the first time in many years.

“Midnight Milestone,” an updated theme to the former “Project Graduation” celebrations of days gone by, was a rousing success, according to organizers.

“The graduates seemed to be surprised of what was available,” Midnight Milestone organizer Candace Thompson said. “Everyone seemed to have had a good time.”

According to final numbers, around 388 graduates and their guests, including 295 graduates, came to the event that began after the graduations on Friday evening.

According to Thompson, popular attractions were a mechanical bull ride and a “Wipeout”-type inflatable obstacle course.

The Knights of Columbus of Saint Patrick Catholic Church also hosted a blackjack area in which was very well-used.

Food was also the name of the game with everything from pizza, sandwiches to chicken tenders available, courtesy of Morristown-area restaurants. Also, various cookies, brownies and other desserts were available. Also, hydration was widely available with soft drinks, water and more.

Thompson plans to send out a survey to participants to see what can be improved for next year’s celebration.

“We have no expectations or any idea on what to look for,” she said. “I’m anxious to see what their thoughts are.”

College Square Mall made a janitor available during the celebration, but attendees policed themselves when it came to spills.

“The Janitor was a workhorse,” Thompson said. “There were only a few minimal spills. All did a great job.”

Most of all, everyone got along great. There was no fighting, rivalry-type behaviors. Everyone just wanted to have fun.

“It was good to see everybody to come together as a whole,” Thompson said. “It didn’t matter where they graduated from, they mingled together.”

Prizes were given away from area businesses. Thompson said that she was pleased with graduates’ reactions upon seeing some of the prizes, which ranged from gift certificates to computers and gaming systems.

“It was good to see the shock on some of the graduates faces to see what they could win,” she said. “It was very heartwarming.”