During the peak of every winter, often with temperatures between -25 and -10 degrees, thousands of people attend Montreal’s famous electronic music festival called Igloofest. It is the only event of its kind in the world!
Igloofest is a village of ice and steel decorations built on the old port of the city where the wind hits hard but does not stop one-piece winter-suited fans from dancing to their favorite international and local DJ’s.
However, the overwhelming popularity this event has gained over the years has filled the dancefloor to a point where you feel like you’re in the mosh pit of a punk show. Believe me, that is no fun dealing with when you already have to face the freezing weather. This is why this year my friends and I chose IglooVIP and we will never again settle for less…
Photo by me - view from the VIP terrace
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General admission or eternal combat
Like many events, Igloofest sells general admission and VIP tickets. Ten years ago, at my first Igloofest, the general admission ticket was at around $15 but there were roughly 4,000 people on site. There was plenty of space to dance and have a great night while sipping on some warm mulled wine. Now the general tickets are around $35 and you have to fight your way into the crowd of 15,000 with hopes of not losing your friends along the way. That happened last year when friends went to the bathroom and we never saw them again during the show. Even if you stay in a spot on the dancefloor and build a sort of friend wall around you, people keep moving around intertwined in trains and make you feel like a turnstile during hours.
Video by me - A glimpse of the awesome music and crowd
VIP or no Igloofest at all
Although I have been going to electronic music festivals since 1999 and made it through very muddy dancefloors, there comes a time where pleasure = comfort. Let’s face it, already going to Igloofest in such epic winter conditions is a challenge in itself. So why not pay a couple bucks more and enjoy the serenity? This year, my friends and I did not hesitate. We paid the $500 for a group of five IglooVIP including:
- Fast entry on the site
- Access to the VIP private terrace overlooking the main stage
- Indoor heated lounge with a LED screen displaying the DJ’s in action
- Exclusive hostess and bar
- 1 bottle of spirits (26 oz, our choice)
- Heated toilets
- Igloo toques (but we forgot to get ours!)
At -25 degrees and for a 3-hour DJ set of Sasha & Digweed (the legendary progressive trance Gods), believe me, it was not a luxury at all! Although we danced a lot on the terrace, the occasional indoor heated lounge visit was highly appreciated. Not to mention that the vibe in the VIP was amazing, with all those frozen lips smiling!
Video by me - VIP heated lounge
There was no pushing around in the crowd of the VIP terrace, as there was plenty of space to dance. Seriously, I was wondering why I had put myself through so much useless general admission suffering in the past years. I mean, unless you get an Igloopass and want to spend all three weekends at igloofest, if you pick one night and treat yourself to the VIP, it is totally worth it.
So what are you waiting for? Grab one of those winter coats on sale right now for end of season or shop a one-piece at a vintage store and plan your next winter frenzy in Montreal at Igloofest....but make sure it’s VIP ;)
