A new tradition was forged in the Old Port in Montreal in 2007, courtesy of the boys behind Piknic Electronik. It was named Igloofest and it attracted 4,000 electronic music fans. By 2012, that crowd transformed in a whopping 70,000 fans willing to dance for hours outdoors during the coldest nights of the year to mixes spun by the crème de la crème in DJ talent. The event has in fact become so huge that in 2013, organizers tacked on a FOURTH weekend to its usual three January weekend draw, extending Igloofest deep into February for the first time in its history, running January 17 through February 9, 2013.
So. Who has the guts to spin at Igloofest? Past guests include:
"It's such an amazing crowd, people go just absolutely mental from the very first record that you play. It must be a Montreal thing!" -Dutch producer Joris Voorn
IGLOOFEST 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
Running the gamut of house, techno, bass, and everything in between, it takes a certain level of guts laced with chutzpah to play a set at Igloofest, with Montreal's wind chill in full blast come January, even though any experienced Igloofester will tell you the weather is no big deal: count at most 10-15 minutes to work up a sweat on the snowy dance floor. Nonetheless, it takes balls to spin in subzero weather and the following DJ/producers are rising to the challenge in 2013, not about to wimp out over a wee arctic bite.
Click here to see which Igloofest 2013 acts you must absolutely see.
Igloofest: It Gets Cold Out There, But Not For Long
Dress warm (e.g., heavy duty down jackets) and most importantly, in layers because it gets sweaty in there as the night progresses. And leave the heels at home. The dance floor, which is basically a bed of snow and slush, has more slip than grip. Another thing, newbies might be interested in joining an Igloofest tradition. It's getting a little old but participants are rarely lacking in the chance to outdo one another by wearing the ugliest, most fluorescent snowsuit get-ups they can find. It's called the one-piece competition and here are pictures of last year's winners and finalists.
Food? Beer?
Beer, energy drinks and mulled wine are sold on the premises as are poutine, pizza and other morsels.
Beat the Crowds
For a lineup-free experience getting through admission, get to the Quai Jacques-Cartier on the Quays of the Old Port, near the corner of Prince Arthur and Place Jacques-Cartier, before 9 p.m.
Cost
Admission $20 per night, weekend pass $40, full lineup-free festival pass $120.
Where Is Igloofest?
At the Quays of the Old Port (map).
Getting There
Champ-de-Mars Metro or Place d'Armes Metro.
For more information on the next edition, visit the Igloofest website.
