CSUN’s First Night Market Brings the Good Vibes

  • Three male and one female student holding life-sized French fries for a photo

    Some students enjoying some fries. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Two female students and Matty the matador posing for a photo infant of a food truck.

    Matty and students checking out some food choices. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • A female DJ on her laptop.

    CSUN's Night Market had a live DJ play some of the best music of the year. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Two male students in an inflatable obstacle course.

    The inflatable obstacle course kept its participants on their toes. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Steak teriyaki bowl.

    Some of the delicious food choices at CSUN's Night Market. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Students gathered around a food truck.

    Just one of many food trucks at CSUN's Night Market. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Hundreds of students in the middle of the USU.

    Hundreds of people showed up for CSUN's first-ever Night Market. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Matty the matador and male student ordering from a food truck.

    Even Matty got hungry at CSUN's Night Market. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

  • Matty the matador and three female students posing by life-size fries.

    Matty and students enjoying their fryday CSUN's Night Market. Photo by David J. Hawkins.

On a refreshing April 12 day, CSUN students, faculty and staff formed a line that stretched from the middle of the University Student Union hundreds of yards to the doorstep of the Student Recreation Center, to receive their $15 voucher for CSUN’s first-ever Night Market.

Students who scored vouchers had delicious choices to make: La Bufadora Baja Grill, The Boba Truck and Tokyo Doggie Style food trucks were among the offerings at the Night Market, modeled after the hugely popular nighttime food festivals/food truck roundups in LA’s San Gabriel Valley and downtown LA. Each truck armed itself with its own unique menu that catered to the Matador masses and their taste buds. Depending on their level of adventure, students could grab a plate of nacho tater tots or a “hurry curry chili dog,” or, for the more temperate foodie, a BBQ chicken bowl.

As the semester approaches its final weeks, the Night Market proved the perfect chance to unwind on a Friday and kick off the weekend.

From 6 to 10 p. m., students kicked back for an evening rich with delicious foods and fun activities such as an outdoor inflatable obstacle course. For dessert, the USU offered students free cotton candy and ice cream. And for those thinking of “the ’gram,” photo booths were available with life-size props — a giant french fry or 7-foot straw.

With a sushi burrito in one hand and a Thai iced tea with boba in the other, senior financial analysis major Kevin Toban summed up the Night Market perfectly.

“There are good vibes, good food and good people,” Toban said. “Events like these take away a lot of the stress off our shoulders from finals, and especially for me since I will be graduating this spring.”

As the sun set, the fun didn’t. A DJ played some of the year’s best music as students grooved and took in the scenery. Students weren’t the only ones enjoying the moment; many people brought along their dogs, big and small, to join in the fun. 

One student noted another benefit he found that evening besides great food, after climbing through one of the games at the event: new friends.

“We were all doing the obstacle course, and that’s how we all started getting to know each other,” said David Casillas, a finance major. “All you need to do to meet new people is have some great food and a lot of fun. You can meet so many new people at events like these.”

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