Piknic started in 2003 courtesy of four gentlemen bent on bringing their favorite electronic tunes out of the dark recesses of a pricey, sketchy, even creepy afterhours scene and into the open, fresh, sunshine filled air of an environment that suits not only teens, twenty and thirty somethings, but families as well. Parc Jean-Drapeau's lookout section, crowned by legendary artist Alexander Calder's gigantic L'Homme became the indisputable location of choice and so began Michel Quintal, Nicolas Cournoyer, Louis-David Loyer and Pascal Lefebvre's new Sunday tradition in the park. And Piknic organizers have a knack for booking A-list DJs as well as up-and-coming jet-setters. Past guests include: Who Goes to Piknic?
Families with small children, teens too young for the club scene, college hipsters, sophisticated professionals, strung-out afterhours types, it's rare to see such an eclectic mix of people attending the same event ... and getting along! The vibe of Piknic is generally peaceful and accepting. For more information, read my review of the experience and check out this clip of Piknic in action. Here is another.
When is Piknic?
Generally, Piknic Electronik is held almost every Sunday, May through September and sometimes October, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. (cancelled if heavy rain). This year's dates are listed in my Piknic review.
How Much is Piknic?
It's $10. Free for kids 12 and under.
Can I Have a Picnic at Piknic?
Yes! Bring as much food and booze as you want, as long as all beverages are in aluminium cans or plastic. No glass is allowed on the premises. Piknic also sells beer, wine, spirits, water, hot dogs and crêpes on the grounds.
Where is Piknic?
You can reach it by car, but it's a longer walk to get there from the paid parking lots (costs $13 to park for the day). It's less of a pain to take public transportation. Just get off at Jean-Drapeau Metro. Upon exiting the subway station, walk almost straight ahead (the path is a few paces to the left), following the dirt path, going in the opposite direction of another giant landmark, the conspicuous Biosphere. Continue following the dirt path for a couple of minutes and the giant sculpture that serves as a landmark for the event will appear in your line of sight in no time.
Who is Spinning at the Next Piknic?
Find out the latest lineup by visiting Piknic Electronik's website.