On Wednesday, April 29, in the heart of downtown Oxnard, early 2000s nostalgia was brought to life in a way only students could. Hosted by VC Social, the 21+ event transformed Casa Lopez into a vibrant hub of creativity, community, and late-night energy. From local vendors and thrift swaps to live music and standout talent, the night was packed with moments that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish. With Y2K-inspired outfits setting the tone and a steady flow of music, laughter, and connection, the event delivered exactly what it promised – great vibes and nonstop fun, all curated by the students shaping Ventura College’s social scene.
With a total of 23 vendors present, it was especially exciting to see fellow students in the mix. Standouts included Liv Lisheski, who served baked goods like her peach cobbler cinnamon roll (which quickly became a crowd favorite). Heather Ornelas brought a wellness focused approach with her energy boosting and cleansing shots, offering something unique and refreshing for attendees throughout the night. Carol Ultreras added a creative twist with her slime booth, featuring pre – made designs that made for eye catching styles including a Starbucks cup themed slime that really drew people in. Brooke Smith created handmade jewelry and did custom orders in person. Last but not least, there was a large selection of clothing and an opportunity to exchange threads or grab something new in a thrift swap style booth ran by Taylor Garcia, Lyla Ingram, Brooke Smith, Mary Ayuso, Nataly Juarez, & Leila Tindall.
The night’s live performances maintained high energy from beginning to end. Linsky opened the night with a unique and entrancing performance that consisted of a talented showcase of the art of Looping instruments. He had eventually transformed small loops from his live instruments into an entire song that then were topped off by freestyles from a special guest as well as myself. His act was followed by 4mor, a former VC social student himself who performed an array of amazing original music with equally talented special guests. After him came The Forever Animals, who performed some high energy covers of classics as well as a sample of some of their original tunes. Next, Djay kept the crowd moving with his incredible, soulful voice performing some throwback 2000’s R & B that had the crowd singing along to every word. I was next in the lineup taking the stage as Saint Anthoney, representing as both a performer and member of the VC Social team. Closing out the night were Dj Hi and Joey Smokes, two amazing DJ’s with a well curated set full of the throwback jams that carried the energy through the final stretch of the event.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came during the raffle drawing that Nataly Juarez was managing. Every guest received a ticket upon entry, and the winners were announced by VC Social’s very own Ashley Cisneros, who served as the host throughout the night. Three separate winners received a hand picked gift basket specially crafted by our student vendors. Each winner came together and shared in the excitement of the moment with the crowd before the music picked back up.
Another highlight was seeing how fully people embraced the Y2K theme. There were outfits throughout the night that truly made you feel like you had time travelled back to the 2000’s. Jerseys, juicy couture, baggy jeans, and more reflected the nostalgia felt and added to the immersive feel of the event.
What stood out most was the sense of community behind it all. VC Social brought this entire event together with a limited promotional time of just two weeks, which made it even more special to see how everything came together. The wide range of talent, vendors, and attendees made the space feel diverse, creative, and representative of the Ventura College and Ventura County community as a whole. Additionally, a special family connection seen through Alex Lopez, the son of Ozzie Lopez who is the Owner of Casa Lopez. This enabled the whole event to be possible in his first endeavor of helping organize an event for his family’s restaurant which was a special sight to see.
Overall, the Y2K Night Market was more than just a themed event, it was a reflection of what students can create when they come together with a shared vision. If you missed it, keep an eye out on the Casa Lopez & VC Social IG for more events like this in the future!
VC Social 