On Sunday, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) brought back the vibrant colors and sound of the 70s, 80s and 90s by transforming the entirety of the main floor of the Holmes Student Center into a blast from the past for Retro Fest.
The event was held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and featured a variety of interactive activities and decor that immersed students who attended in that vintage vibe of previous decades.
Old school styles, DIY art and nostalgia
Of the booths sprinkled around the HSC, one of the most popular was one dedicated to airbrushed beanies.
Reminiscent of a Florida 90s style, a variety of different designs were offered, with bright colors that could spell out names or any other moniker and bold graphics. Students lined up for custom beanies that were a hit all throughout the event.
Another creative opportunity CAB had for students was a record painting station.
Huskies who gathered at The College Grind, a multipurpose space on the main floor of the HSC, were given mini vinyl records to paint and turn into custom art that could be hung up in dorms.
Jayla Ward, a first-year marketing major, explored some of the other activities offered, including a costume contest later in the night.
“My friends and I spent the most time doing the make your own vinyl and cassette tapes. We were there for about an hour and a half. That was what we wanted to do the most,” Ward said.
Lights low, music on
The biggest hit of the night was when the HSC cleared the hardwood floors of the Duke Ellington Ballroom as the lights turned low and classic records began to spin. Classic tracks like Fergalicious by Fergie, Material Girl by Madonna, and even a few of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits played as roller skates spun. Rental roller skates were available free of charge for any student to cruise into the night.
At the same time, some immersed themselves in their favorite fashion trends from back in the day. At around 11 p.m. a contest was held for the best decade inspired outfit.
Diondré Morris, a sophomore dance major who took home the first place prize with his 80s style get-up, remarked on his time at the event.
“I know for me, I went karaoke, I went to the beanie and I went roller skating, and I had a ball,” Morris said.
He described the moments between getting on stage and winning the themed outfit contest.
“There was this guy at the contest, he had on like this red silk satin kind of outfit. And so one, we had the same aesthetic like disco inspired, but I thought he was better than mine,” Morris said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to lose.’ But I went up there and served.”
Payton ‘Ten’ Shields, a sophomore BFA design and technology major, was announced as the second place winner of the contest.
“I didn’t even think I was going to win, but my friend told me to go up there. I was like OK, perfect,” Shields said.
After Shield’s second place win was announced, both winners commemorated with a shared dance on the runway.
All in all, contestants sported themselves in their best vintage looks. Bellbottoms were on full display, Afro hairstyles picked to their absolute fullest and some students even pulled out real vintage pieces from those eras.
For their next event, Campus Activity Board invites students to join them for “Huskies on Ice”.
From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m on Feb. 6, the East Lagoon will be open for ice skating, free of charge for students who complete registration. For more information on this specific event and to register, check out the NIU Event Calendar.
