TIFTON — After much consultation and studying weather charts, Tift County Schools announced its graduation ceremony plans Wednesday afternoon.

This year’s ceremony will be held at the UGA Conference Center because of expected storms.

“After consulting with the local Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service and due to the expected rainfall on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th, the decision has been made to hold this year’s graduation ceremony at the UGA Conference Center,” said Tift County Schools on its social media accounts.

“While we know that this is not the ideal situation, we feel that it is in the best interest of our graduates and their families and allows us to provide a quality ceremony for our students.”

There is a noticeable difference in seating between the usual venue of Brodie Field and the UGA Conference Center. Tift Schools said each graduate will receive four tickets for guests. No guests without tickets will be permitted to enter the ceremony. Graduates get their tickets after mandatory graduation practice Thursday morning.

Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and the ceremony will begin at 8:45 a.m. It will be livestreamed on YouTube.

“Due to how seating will be arranged, all guests must be seated in the auditorium no later than 8:40 a.m.,” said Tift Schools. “This will ensure the processional is not disrupted due to late arrivals.”

After that time, the main entrance will be locked and latecomers will directed to sit in a designated overflow area at the north entrance, where the ceremony will be streamed.

Beyond the ticket and timing restrictions, Tift Schools is also limiting what can be brought into the facility:

“[N]o noise makers, confetti, balloons, signs, etc. are allowed inside the auditorium,” according to the announcement.

More information as needed will be posted at: https://tchs.tiftschools.com/o/tchs/page/graduation-information.