Piknic Electronik in Montreal: A Review

Piknic Electronik, a Montreal outdoor tradition, is an electronic music hub, great for progressive house, tech house and minimal fans with a nature-loving streak. Set in the stunning Parc Jean-Drapeau, make your way to the central dance area under that huge modern art sculpture, L'Homme or, if the crowd becomes too much and you want a more zen experience, simply walk around and enjoy the waterfront view and acres of park! And you can bring your own booze too (see maximum limits below), as long as you have picnic food with you (warning: chips by themselves don't count).

Piknic Electronik is a fun, mixed bag of surprises. The music -- generally tech house, progressive house, and dirty minimal, but covering every electronic genre and sub-genre imaginable, particularly weekends where MUTEK artists are featured -- is top-notch (past DJs include Josh Wink, James Holden, Mistress Barbara and MSTRKRFT) and the location is picturesque, multipurpose, and easy to get to by public transit, offering a convenient and affordable excuse to get active (ideal for picnics, Frisbee-playing, dog-walking, biking).

The crowd is varied, with many in their late teens, early twenties and there's also the late twenties/thirty something and older crowd ranging from parents bringing their toddlers for a day in the sun to afterhours scenesters.

Get there early, before 3 p.m., if you want a prime spot in the middle of the action with one of the few plastic chairs and outdoor mattresses scattered on the outskirts of the concrete dance floor. Located just underneath the huge L'Homme stabile, the Piknic hub has a tribal sensation to it, especially when the dance floor fills up, usually by 5 p.m. For a mellower, more intimate beat-in-the-distance experience, take a left or right past the statue and choose a spot on the grass or walk down the first staircase you see to sit by the water.

Great to attend with a group of friends, the event is also dog and kid-friendly with a play section on site for toddlers. Beer, wine, juice, energy drinks, crêpes and hot dogs are sold near the sculpture.

One last thing. New visitors should know that Piknic is a family and LGBT-friendly event founded on harmony, respect and tolerance, a place for people who want an electronic music experience without a bar or afterhours feeling. Children are commonly seen dancing, enjoying an experience many older types would have relished at their age. Yet the 2009 season was plagued with a level of alcohol-related violence and disrespect towards women unheard of in Piknic's history. In order to protect patrons and the essence of Piknic, alcohol restrictions were put in place for Season 8; organizers made it clear that spring break and frat house style antics would not be tolerated, with bartenders reserved to right to refuse serving excessively inebriated clients. Also, guests can only bring a maximum of one 750 ml bottle of wine OR three 355 ml cans of beer OR two 500ml cans of beer, per person, provided said alcohol is accompanied with picnic food (sandwiches, salads, cheese, snacks, fruits, etc.). Also, the only glass allowed on site is in the form of a wine bottle. All beer must be in cans.