Matador Nights is CSUN’s signature back-to-school festival, drawing thousands of students together for an evening of entertainment, community, and campus pride. For the six-hour event, 4,000+ students filled the grounds - and Something New was brought in to deliver interactive games that could match the scale and energy of the night. We activated four of our high-throughput carnival games, supported by LED lighting to keep the space vibrant well into the evening and designed to stay engaging from start to finish.
With premium prizes on the line - including themed plushies and custom apparel - the games quickly became a must-visit destination, with students lining up for hours and returning for repeat plays. By the end of the night, our games were still drawing crowds, effectively closing out the event with active lines and sustained energy. The experience resonated so strongly with both students and organizers that CSUN invited us back to power their spring back-to-school event, turning a single activation into an ongoing campus partnership.
CSUN Matador Nights Festival |
Carnival Games for Adults |
Something New
Case Study
Four-Game Package
Our four-game package featured Squirrel Throwing, Donkey Darts, The Dump Truck, and Pickle Toss - a mix of fast, intuitive games designed for high throughput and big crowd reactions. The variety kept gameplay feeling fresh while encouraging repeat play, making the game zone a consistent draw throughout the night.
Full Night of Fun!
Matador Nights ran for six hours, requiring games that could sustain energy from the opening crowd through the final moments of the event. Built for quick resets and smooth flow, the games stayed engaging all night long - with lines still active at closing time.
Features & Add-Ons
The rentals came with full-service support from Something New as a carnival game vendor, turning the setup into a seamless, end-to-end experience.
Fun Facilitators
For a high-energy event with over 1,000 attendees, extra hands made all the difference. Our relief staff helped keep games running smoothly, lines moving quickly, and the energy up throughout the night, so every student got in on the fun without missing a beat.
Premium Plushies
Nothing fuels excitement like a chance to win. A variety of prizes added an extra layer of motivation, turning friendly competition into full-on hype and giving students even more reasons to jump in, play hard, and celebrate their wins.
LED Lighting
Since Matador Nights came alive after dark, LED lighting set the mood. Vibrant, colorful lights transformed the space into a dynamic nighttime experience, amplifying the energy, spotlighting the action, and making every moment feel more immersive and Instagram-worthy.
Why it Worked
The activation worked because it matched the scale, duration, and energy of a large campus festival. A strong game mix, visible lighting, and premium prizes created constant demand, while high-throughput design and expert facilitation kept lines moving - delivering sustained engagement and a standout experience that brought CSUN back for a second event.
Carnival Games,
Reimagined.