Valentine’s Day is upon us and despite your relationship status, there’s something exciting planned for everyone: ‘80s Prom Night.
Whether you like to ignore the day’s existence, or snuggle up with that someone special, ‘80s Prom Night gives you an excuse to be just as cheesy as that rom-com you secretly love.
Dream A Theme Productions is hosting ‘80s Prom Night for anyone interested in joining them for a night of dancing, live music, dinner and a chance to win prom king and queen. People of all ages are invited to attend and dress up like it’s 1985.
Kevin Dobbs, owner of Dream A Theme Productions encourages people to “come do something different on Valentine’s Day.”
Instead of traditional dinner dates, make this year stand out.
“What we’re trying to do is take events and entertainment to the next level and especially keeping it within the 805, that’s the big thing. Everybody always has to go to Hollywood or L.A., now let’s do it here,” Dobbs said.
The event is hosted at the Ventura County Fairgrounds Santa Cruz Hall, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
According to the Dream A Theme website, pre-sale tickets include admission, parking, live entertainment (music provided by the band “Undercover” of Ventura County), live DJ, music videos, interactive ‘80s characters, dinner buffet and one printed photo of you and/or you with your date.
California Lutheran University students can get additional discounts using a valid student ID. For anyone purchasing tickets at the door, student IDs will still be accepted for discount, but dinner will not be included. Make sure to purchase tickets in advance to take advantage of special offers.
There will be a cash bar on site serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with the featured drink of the night “Spiked Punch.”
Designated drivers of the night will get free sodas, coffee and water, when wearing a designated driver wristband.
A live ‘80s cover band will be performing alongside a DJ spinning the top hits of the decade. The night will be filled with surprise performances.
“What we advertise is only a percentage of what’s going to be there. There is always going to be surprises or performances or something that really makes you feel like you’ve jumped back in time. It’s not just a party or a themed event, there’s actors there, you don’t know who’s an actor and who’s not, they could be in line with you playing a character. For this event, someone might be playing the jocks or the cheerleaders [and] the MC is going to be the principle. It’s going to be cheesy like it would have been in the ‘80s but it’s going to be different than what anybody’s done today. This is as close as you can be to stepping into a time machine,” Dobbs said.
“I know it’s going to be nothing short of an extremely fun night with good food, good entertainment and dancing,” Jen Garcia, band member of “Undercover,” said.
“We’re focused on ‘80s hits, there is going to be songs that are well known to people, we’ve decided on a good array,” Garcia said.
The band plans to cover the decade from beginning to end and add in some electronic sounds.
“We absolutely are [dressing up], so not only some good music to listen to, but we should have some good visuals as well,” Garcia said.
Amanda Morgan, Event Manager and Coordinator of Dream A Theme Productions said, “We want to bring an experience to the 805 area versus just going to an event or going to a party. We really want it to feel like you’ve travelled back in time, you’re stepping back in the ‘80s at your prom.”
A portion of the proceeds for every Dream A Theme event is donated back into the community.
“It’s really important to us that we give back to the 805 [for] every event that we do in the area. Partial proceeds will go to a local non-profit of our choice,” Morgan said.
This time around proceeds will be donated to benefit School on Wheels Inc., a non-profit dedicated to tutoring homeless children. The event will also sponsor two children to attend Simi Valley’s YMCA resident camp in Big Bear.
Nominations for prom king and queen will be held online. Nominate yourself or a friend, anyone is welcome to campaign for the crown. Voting will take place at the venue and a prom king and queen will be announced by the end of the night.
“It’s an experience. They have to come and experience it. Each event is going to get bigger and better, it’s never going to be the same thing,” Dobbs said.
Cal Lutheran students can buy tickets online with additional discounts using the promo codes – 80sprom – for single tickets and – 80spromcouple – for couples tickets.
For additional information on Dream A Theme Productions and ‘80s Prom Night go to the Dream A Theme Productions website.
Taylor Rowlands
Staff Writer
Published February 3rd, 2016