In Montreal, C2 stands for commerce and creativity, as in C2-MTL, an annual gathering of leading innovators from a broad spectrum of industry who have but one thing on their minds: finding creative answers to commercial questions. And, especially this year, C2 also stands for culture and cool…

Now in its second year, C2-MTL – taking place at Arsenal (a converted shipyard built in 1846), May 21-23 – fairly explodes the notion of the traditional business conference. No soul-destroying PowerPoint presentations here. Instead, 20 internationally renowned keynote speakers from a multiplicity of disciplines – including, for example, Virgin’s Richard Branson, former supermodel and now business exec Elle Macpherson, and French architect and designer Philippe Starck – sharing their experience vis-à-vis immersive multimedia presentations.

An imaginative array of panel discussions, collaborative workshops, interactive exhibits, conceptual spaces and festive events all serve to augment the emphasis on creating next-level networking opportunities and real-world business solutions. Which is to say stimulation, not simulation.

C2-MTL is about the whole brain, left and right sides combined. Well-satiated senses are conducive to creating and C2’s arts and cultural partnering in particular reflects that. This year the Montreal Opera will play a key role at the conference opening with uniquely conceived solo performances blending digital media. Cirque du Soleil will contribute with a 47-performer strong original creation upped with “an extra dose of dazzle” from fashion legend and keynote speaker Diane von Furstenberg. The Montreal International Jazz Festival will kick in with Musique Risquée, featuring prominent Montreal DJs Vincent Lemieux and Akufen (they’ll also be curating music on C2’s outdoor plaza).

Modern dance will come in the form of the Festival TransAmérique choreographer Ginette Laurin and her new Arab Spring-inspired work Khaos. And to cap it all off, three of Montreal’s cutting-edge music festivals – M for Montreal, Osheaga and Igloofest – will all sponsor live entertainment on C2-MTL’s closing night at the Intel Forum onsite. Look for performances by indie-folk-rock tastemakers Half Moon Run, longstanding top-shelf turntablist Kid Koala and internationally acclaimed electro/techno dance DJ Tiga.

THE DETAILS

C2-MTL, May 21-23, 2013

Arsenal, 2020 Rue William, (514) 931-9978

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(happy outdoors) Bundle up the whole family for Fête des Neiges, a weekend of outdoor activities and entertainment – including tube sliding, a zip-line, ice skating, snow-shoeing and dog sledding – at Parc Jean-Drapeau. While at the park, visit Montreal’s one-of-a-kind Snow Village, featuring heated igloos, a hotel, restaurant and bar, and more. Or go rustic and sporty at the Old Port’s Ice Fishing Village, with genuine ice fishing shacks (heated!) and a well-stocked river.

(ice dancing) Pull your warmest toque on, lace up your snowboots, zip into that neon one-piece snowsuit (or not…) and join thousands of electronic music fans for the fun and spectacle that is Igloofest, a four-weekend-long outdoor electronic music festival unique to Montreal, happening at Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port. This Friday night, groove to Berlin-based duo Pan-Pot, Russia’s Nina Kraviz and Pierre De Lux. Follow that up on Saturday night with Germany’s Schlachthofbronx, TNGHT, Tronald Trump and Kaytranada.

(stage & scene) Art, theatre and circus acts come together in La Verità, a talent-packed show created by Daniele Finzi Pasca based on a captivating original Dali backdrop painting, which often features in the forefront of the show, along with trapeze artists, dancers, jugglers and more – at Place des Arts to February 3. Opéra de Montreal Johann Strauss II’s lively Die Fledermaus, featuring tenor Marc Hervieux, January 26, 29 and 31. Fall under the rock-music-inspired-by-parables spell of Beautiful City Theatre’s production of Godspell, The Musical, January 25-26 and 31 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. See flamenco done in new, often experimental ways in La Otra Orilla from dancer/choreographer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja, at Cinquième Salle to January 26.

(movie magic) Cozy up to some great films this week at the PHI Centre. The Old Montreal-based arts and cultural hub welcomes the public to free screenings of Peter Mettler’s The End of Time on January 25 at 5 p.m. and Michael McGowan’s Still at 7 p.m. The Centre also presents a series of films selected by Quebec filmmaker Denis Côté, with Antoine Boutet’s Le plein pays screening on January 30, along with a special screening on January 30 of György Pálfi’s Final Cut Ladies & Gentlemen, a Cannes 2012 selection.

(art inspiration) The MMFA is warm and admission to its permanent collections is free! See new acquisitions of Quebec and Canadian art from 1980-2010 (such as Kim Dorland’s Nature Painting #2, above) work by Taiwan-born Montreal photographer and video artist Chih-Chien Wang, and Iranian photographer Aydin Matlabi’s Landscape, Revolution, People. Go to DHC/ART in Old Montreal for a heady trip into German artist Thomas Demand’s multi-layered recreations of reality in still images and carefully animated film installations. See images Montreal’s past at Pointe-à-Callière – and save money on admission whenever the temperature drops below zero degrees celsius: visitors get an equal percentage off the admission price throughout January and February. Head outside again to play with colourful, illuminated outdoor music installation Iceberg, located at Place des Arts.

(live music) On Saturday night, get your ska-punk on with Reel Big Fish at the Corona Theatre, melt away to the electro-pop sounds of Ellie Goulding at Metropolis, and The Harley Show revs its engines with motorcycles and rock n’ roll at the Bell Centre. On January 27, California psych-rockers The Growlers play La Sala Rossa. On January 28, Marilyn Manson does his thing at Metropolis, punk-hardcore Hot Water Music maybe mess up L’Olympia, and Montreal musicians get together for Lettingo: The Music and Influence of Ornette Coleman at Sala Rossa. On January 29, a whole bunch of great Montreal musicians, like Plants & Animals, Galaxie and The Barr Brothers, play benefit concert Unis Contre at Cabaret du Mile End. And on January 30, The Queen Extravaganza belts its drama-rock way into the Bell Centre.

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Despite seriously cold weather (even for Montreal), almost 18,000 people checked out the opening weekend of Igloofest. We think the video above does a pretty good of explaining why. With three more weekends ahead of us, and music from Ellen Allien, TNGHT, A Tribe Called Red, Caspa, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, Joy Orbison, Chris Liebing and many more on the way, there’s no reason for you not to suit up and come get down in the Old Port.

THE DETAILS

Igloofest at Jacques-Cartier Quay, January 17 to February 9, 2013

Photos by Susan Moss

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(winter warmth) Montreal has many ways to warm up the great outdoors. Igloofest, winter’s answer to Piknic Electronik, continues its first weekend at the Old Port on Friday night in collaboration with Mutek, featuring Stephen Beaupré, Germany’s Mathias Kaden and Bulgaria’s KiNK, while on Saturday, dance to DJ Josh Wink and Canadian faves Paolo Rocco and DJ Sneak. Come back on Thursday, January 24 for Alicia Hush, Miss Kittin and Ellen Allien. Across the river from Igloofest, settle in at Montreal’s one-of-a-kind Snow Village, with restaurants, a hotel, activities and more. And outdoors right outside Place des Arts, get interactive with music-and-light installation Iceberg, part of the Luminothérapie exhibition in downtown’s Quartier des Spectacles.

(game on) NHL hockey comes back to Montreal this week! To smooth the ice and get fans back into the groove, the Bell Centre is inviting everyone to check out morning skates for the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, January 19 – it’s free, doors open at 9 a.m., seating is on a first-come-first-served basis, and fans will be treated to a hot dog, chips and a soft drink as well as 50 percent off Canadiens merchandise. Later that day, the Habs play the Maple Leafs, and on January 22, they face off against the Panthers.

(circus, song & dance) The art, antics and dreamworld of Salvador Dali are the inspiration for the acrobatic, song and dance of circus show La Verità, created by Daniele Finzi Pasca and featuring a gorgeous original Dali backdrop painting, on at Place des Arts to February 3. More music is in the picture in Beautiful City Theatre’s rock-musical rendition of Godspell, The Musical, January 24-26 and 31 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. La Otra Orilla shows us new and traditional forms of flamenco dance, with dancer/choreographer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja, at Cinquième Salle to January 26. Marie Béland’s Bleu-Vert-Rouge offers a taste of Montreal’s contemporary dance scene at L’Agora, January 23-26, as does the Bouge d’ici Festival, with shows from emerging dancers and choreographers at Mainline Theatre to January 19. And amazing puppetry wows as The Old Trout Puppet Workshop comes to Montreal with their “happiness” show Ignorance, January 18-19.

(screen time) See recent and acclaimed Canadian films for free at the PHI Centre this week: director Nisha Pahuja’s The World Before Her on January 18, Kim Nguyen’s Rebelle on January 21, David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis and Michael Dowse’s Goon on January 23, and Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children and Sean Garrity’s My Awkward Sexual Adventure on January 24. The PHI Centre also presents a series of films selected by filmmaker Denis Côté, including Sergei Loznitsa’s My Joy, Bill Ross’ Tchoupitoulas and Nikolaus Geyrhalter’s Abendland. Over on the 360-degree domed Satosphere screen at the SAT see Chaos and Order, a panoramic work by media artist Rocco Helmchen and composer Johannes Kraas, playing to February 22 – and as a bonus at the SAT’s Foodlab on January 20, eat well and talk gluten-free gourmet with guest chef Aran Goyoaga of Cannelle et Vanille.

(art world) Innovative Old-Montreal-based DHC/ART impresses yet again with their mind-expanding new show Thomas Demand: Animations, opening January 19, featuring the German artist’s films and videos, interlacing photography, architecture, sculpture and media images. The must-see, 1960s-to-present-day installation work of Canadian art legend Michael Snow is explored in Solo Snow: Works of Michael Snow at Galerie de l’UQAM. And Parisian Laundry, located not far from downtown in the neighbourhood of St-Henri, shows new brightly coloured new work by Jennifer Lefort and Samuel Roy-Bois’ installation J’ai Moonwalké Sans Cesse, Jusqu’à L’épuisement, which includes a drum kit ready for visitors to play.

(music time) On Saturday night, listen to the inventive sounds and inspired lyrics of Christopher Owens and Gentlemen Reg, at Cabaret Mile End. Hear and see something different on January 21, as saxophonist Adam Kinner collaborates with pianist Andy Costello for a theatrical performance at Sala Rossa. On January 22, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra welcomes the Budapest Festival Orchestra to the new Maison symphonique de Montréal to play a program of 20th-century works, from Shostakovich to Rachmaninov, while Californian electro-folk (and much more) singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe  captivates at Il Motore, and L.A.’s Hollywood Undead play Theatre Corona. And on January 24, Brooklyn indie-rock band Wakey Wakey gets toes tapping to love songs at Cabaret du Mile End, and The Whammies, an all-star jazz group of players from Chicago, Boston and the Netherlands make a night of it at Sala.

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(New Year’s Eve) Montreal’s long-time reputation as a party town is based almost entirely on fact, with a few tall tales thrown in to keep people guessing – and New Year’s Eve always has the potential to be the stuff of legend. Sure, NYE isn’t technically in January, but its after-effects usually continue for at least a day or three, so consider the Montreal Buzz Guide to New Year’s Eve 2012, a key to starting the month out right. Whatever your style, the guide has a suggestion: dinners out, fun with the family, big parties, small parties, dancing and romancing.

[www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Nr5GUPT9g]

(snow city) Montreal’s Snow Village, the first and only of its kind in North America, steps it up another notch this year to bring a bit of New York City into the wintry mix. The Snow Village still has a giant snow slide and other outdoor activities, hot tubs, a heated igloo, a fully equipped hotel and restaurant, and more, but with a few big-city twists. The site, located in Parc Jean-Drapeau just across the water from the city centre, officially opens January 18, but the bar and restaurant, along with many activities – including a train ride and snow sculpture workshops for kids – will be open starting January 4. And there’s more to do in the snow at the outdoor skating rink in the Old Port, open all winter with rentals available on site, and over at the Olympic Park Winter Village.

(on-stage spectacle) Live theatre and dance is big in Montreal, especially during the winter months, with visiting troupes and local companies taking the city’s stages. World-wide award-winning hit Billy Elliot: The Musical comes to Montreal for eight shows January 8-13 at Place des Arts – based on the film of the same name, the show tells the story of a young British boy who dreams of becoming a dancer. Beautiful City Theatre puts on rock-musical classic Godspell, The Musical, January 24-26 and 31 at Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal. On a smaller scale, Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival showcases plays that are a little off the beaten track – and always entertaining – January 3-13. In dance, Danse Danse brings us La Otra Orilla, a new flamenco show from dancer/choreographer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja, at Cinquième Salle January 16-26. Contemporary dance is always on the program for L’Agora de la danse, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Andrew de Lotbinière Harwood’s Discovery bal January 11-12 and choreographer Marie Béland’s Bleu-Vert-Rouge January 23-26.

(spa zone) Warm up in January at one of Montreal’s fabulous spas, such as beautiful Bota Bota, located on a refurbished boat on the St-Lawrence River just steps from Old Montreal, tranquil Spa Scandinave in the heart of the old city, or head over to the thermal waters and Finnish saunas of Strøm Spa Nordic located on Ile-des-Soeurs – they even have a Night Under the Stars late-night spa/nightclub event. Wherever you are in Montreal, there’s a spa close by, whether in Old Montreal, downtown or in the nearby Plateau neighbourhood.

(dancing on ice) Get your groove on at Igloofest, Montreal’s one-of-a-kind outdoor electronic music festival, spanning four weeks this year, with big-name music talent, awesome visuals and crowds ready to dance the night away. Igloofest goes down every Thursday to Saturday night from January 17 to February 9 at Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port, kicking off with none other than Sasha on the main Sapporo stage and running strong from there with house, dubstep and all kinds of electronic music in between and beyond.

(educational fun) Science and music combine in Musik: From Sound to Emotion a cool, kid-friendly, hands-on exhibition about how music works on our minds and bodies, featuring videos from pop-punk band Simple Plan and an opportunity to create a personal composition, at the Montreal Science Centre until March 10. Watch Montreal history unfold and see rare artifacts from Richard Béliveau’s vast collection of samurai armour, weapons and more at Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History – where if the temperature drops below zero degrees celsius, visitors get an equal percentage off the admission price throughout January and February!

(out-there art world) Montreal’s high-tech art, culture and education centre, Society for Art and Technology (SAT) opens its state-of-the-art, surround sound-and-image Satosphere to new media artist Rocco Helmchen and composer Johannes Kraas, who show their panoramic symphonic audio-visual show Chaos and Order, every night from January 15 to February 22 – an immersive work of art that uses fractals, geometric forms and chaos theory to blur the edges of reality, mathematics and the imagination.

(live music) As always, Montreal has a packed live music schedule. Among the bigger names this month are popular hardcore rock band Quicksand, playing January 8 at at the Corona Theatre, followed at the same venue by the greatness of The Walkmen and Father John Misty on January 15, and All Time Low, Yellowcard and Fireworks on January 16. On January 10, Montreal indie-pop-rock band Purity Ring prooves why they’ve gotten so much hype, with Young Magic, at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine E.). Wakey Wakey raise the roof with rollicking love songs at Cabaret du Mile End (5240 Parc) on January 24. British electro-pop singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding comes to Montreal with St.Lucia on January 26, while Reel Big Fish brings a good ol’ time to Theatre Corona Virgin Mobile, and The Harley Show revs its engines with motorcycle mania and rock n’ roll at the Bell Centre. On January 28, still going strong in his own special way, Marilyn Manson takes the stage at Metropolis. And rock n’ roll nostalgia is in full force at The Queen Extravaganza at the Bell Centre on January 30.

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A true born-and-bred Montreal phenomenon, electronic music festival Igloofest has changed thousands of people’s minds about spending hours outdoors in wintry January and February – now in it’s seventh year, the Igloofest party is bigger than ever, spanning four weekends in the picturesque Old Port…

Igloofest turns the Jacques-Cartier Quay into a dance-party zone starting Thursday, January 17 with an amazing, break-the-bank first night: none other than Sasha, yes, the Sasha of the trancy-techno, the blonky drumbeats, the space-echo vocals, shows us what he’s made of (a lot) on the main Sapporo stage. Not only that, but Wolf and Lamb return to deepen the groove. I am very there. The music continues on Friday night in collaboration with Mutek, Canada’s biggest electronic music festival – they’ve got Montreal’s Stephen Beaupré, Germany’s Mathias Kaden and Bulgaria’s KiNK on the program. January 19 brings in acclaimed American DJ Josh Wink and Canadian faves Paolo Rocco and DJ Sneak.

On January 24, Montreal purveyor of hipness, Urbania magazine presents a trio of awesome women producing some of the latest and greatest electronic beats around: Alicia Hush, Miss Kittin and Ellen Allien. January 25 gets it right again with Berlin-based duo Pan-Pot, not-to-be-missed Nina Kraviz (label-mate with Carl Craig and DJ Hell) and Pierre De Lux, and Saturday night gets heavily funky with Germany’s Schlachthofbronx, TNGHT, Tronald Trump and Kaytranada. Stay in town until the following weekend for much-talked about locals who’ve recently made it big A Tribe Called Red, British dubstep master Caspa, Berlin’s Magda, France’s Agoria, housey-experimental Audiofly, and more.

Igloofest’s final and fourth weekend sees Nightlife magazine bringing Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard to the party along with cutting-edge Ben UFO. On Friday, February 8, summer music festival Osheaga presents DJ Oneman adding melodic elements to hip hop beats and dubstep producer Joy Orbison, plus Canada’s The Gulf Stream. Saturday night ends the fest with huge techno-leaning sets from Germany’s Chris Liebing, Tommy Four Seven and Pulses.

Perhaps as a way for dancers to better keep up their stamina over the next few weekends, the Igloofest site has been redesigned this year, with more space to chill out and socialize, as well as a new “village of playful activities.” More flatscreens and LED displays fill the space along with the fest’s immersive, high-tech projections and light show. Igloofest’s secondary space, an indoor venue called the Virgin Mobile Igloo, isn’t a place to rest though – over 40 great local and up-and-coming DJs and VJs like Scott C, Mossa and Montreal new media studio Gridspace turn the Igloo into a sweaty, celebratory hive of dancing bodies throughout Igloofest. And besides simply dancing the night away, Igloofest veterans know how to dress: in bright colours, one-piece ski-suits and flashy toques, accompanied by a tall can of Sapporo and a general spirit of happiness.

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 And, before January 5, 2013, absolutely make sure to enter to this AMAZING IGLOOFEST VIP CONTEST which includes travel, accommodations, VIP tickets to Igloofest and much more!

THE DETAILS

Igloofest at Jacques-Cartier Quay, January 17 to February 9, 2013

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A full day of snowfall did not deter thousands of Montrealers and tourists alike from showing up for the kickoff of Igloofest, which continues until January 28. People showed up in their best winter wear, explored the fest’s many fun and frosty features, and, of course, danced the night away to Montreal expat A-Trak. There’s plenty more to come, so make sure that this is the year you figure out what all the fuss is about.

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What’s nice about Igloofest is that it brings together thousands of people in one place (at the Quays of the Old Port) over three weekends (January 12–14, 19–21 and 26–28 – yes, Thursday is part of the weekend now), in a month that isn’t exactly known for being party central (except on my birthday, which happens fall between the last two Igloofest weekends, meaning double the festivities!). It’s truly a phenomenon; get excited.

Igloofest is the wintery answer to Piknic Electronik, which takes place every summer Sunday over in picturesque Parc Jean-Drapeau, and whereas Piknic challenges us to wear as few clothes as possible, Igloofest encourages the flashiest, puffiest, ski-bunny-est winter outerwear possible. Neon 80s one-piece racing suit? Check. Rainbow-striped pom-pom’d toque? Check. Furry knee-high boots? Why not. Go for festive gold or just dress in your usual winter fare (maybe add a sparkly scarf or stick a glow-stick in your hat as an ode to rave days gone by), anything goes.

Okay, okay, so Igloofest is a great party populated by fun-loving people, but what about the music?? Well, the music is truly what ties this whole thing together, with some of the best DJs and VJs in the world willing to take the stage, even if they have to do it wearing wooly mittens. This year’s line-up, as in past years, appeals to all sorts of tastes, from eclectic melodic techno to steady four-on-the-floor beats to keep us solidly warm. With two stages of music – the main Sapporo stage and the local-talent Virgin Mobile stage – to wander (read: dance) between and food and beverages throughout the site, as well as warm-up stations, each night can truly be a unique experience.

During each night of Igloofest, the music starts nice and early, at 6:30 p.m. On January 12, Montrealer (now ex-pat) A-Trak, who recently blew up online with his bizarre and hilarious Barbra Streisand video, returns with a joyous set, along with the dubstep of UK’s Mala (DMZ). The next night, it’s electro funk with Tanner Ross and house with Tiefschwarz, while on January 14, Osheaga organizers bring Bambounou, Buraka Som Sistema and more. On January, Urbania mag brings us Tiga and Terence Fixmer, on January 20, it’s the Mutek party, with German artist D-Diggler just added, and on January 21, it’s Max Cooper and Sébastien Léger. On January 26, hold onto your fuzzy hats because M.I.A. collaborator and Major Lazer man Diplo is back – this night will be off the hook – with a weekend full of awesome (Green Velvet, Ostrich, Marcel Dettmann & Ben Klock) to follow.

And, lastly, a few Igloofest tips gleaned over the years:

• If you’re a serious electronic music lover and plan on being in town for more than one weekend, the $60 Igloofest pass is likely the best bang for your buck. If you’re just in town for the weekend and/or aren’t “into” electronic music, peruse the schedule, choose the nights that sound right for you and, if possible, buy tickets ahead of time or get to the site early enough (before 9 p.m.) that you won’t have to wait in line to buy tickets ($15). Though, to be honest, standing in line can be pretty great for making new friends.

• Each weekend is not like the other; check the temperature and dress accordingly. Sometimes it’s warm enough to warrant unzipping the coat and taking off the hat and sometimes it’s so cold that even the staunchest of non-dancers becomes a dancing machine. Indoor spaces and outdoor warm-up stations make for a pleasant break, of course.

• As for dancing, Igloofest is a low-key dancer’s paradise – when you’re wearing winter boots and a puffy parka, side-to-side shuffle action is your friend. Certainly, there’s plenty of flamboyant dancing going on but best believe lifting those Sorels all night means hamstring pain the next morning. Kinda worth it though.

• You can’t bring alcohol on site but there’s plenty to buy, from hot drinks to big cans of beer. On colder nights beer has a tendency to freeze, so (as if I really need to advise this?), drink it in a timely manner.

• Igloofest crowds are among the smiley-est around, so brush your teeth and ready your face for a good time.

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THE DETAILS

Igloofest, January 12-28, 2012

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This weekend, January 20-22, has it all: ballet, dancing, electro bands, The Habs and even a little sunshine imported directly Cuba…

[Ice Dancing] Igloofest: Once again the Old Port’s Igloofest tops our weekend party options. Click here to see a video of one of our bloggers’ initiation into this very “a la Montreal” event…

[Ballet] BJM Danse, which was formerly known as Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal), gives you lots of bang for your ballet buck with a bill that includes works from Mauro Bigonzetti, Cayetano Soto and Ochoa at Theatre Maisoneuve.

[Bright Lights] Pixiness: Why not wander down to the SAT to see their super cool new interactive light display…

[Electro MTL] Montreal’s Chromeo take over Metropolis on Friday night with an opening set from the decidedly charming outfit The Suzan.

[The Habs] The Montreal Canadiens play the Anaheim Ducks at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. If you haven’t scored tickets, here are 10 spots where you can catch the game.

[Under the Cuban Sun] The Botanical Garden offers you a chance to leave the winter behind, with photos, videos and texts taken from Brother Marie-Victorin’s (the Garden’s founder) many trips down to Cuba.

The post THIS WEEKEND IN MONTREAL (JANUARY 20 TO 22) appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Oh yeah, now I remember. Because it’s outside! In the middle of winter! At night! Along the frosty St-Laurent River! And did I mention it’s outside? So, yes, if you’re a winter activity buff, you’ll be in your element. But if the GPS triangulations of this event conflict with your personal barometer for cold weather, I suggest you bite the bullet. Because once you’re there and picking up the vibe, you’ll be like, Wow, okay, I heart Igloofest.

To stand up to sub-zero temps, do as I did and don a full-on ski-suit. If you happen to own a retro-fabulous one-piece snowsuit, get thee to the photo booth and have your fine self immortalized on the Igloofest website – you just may win some amazing stuff, including a VIP weekend at Le Massif de Charlevoix. Should you feel like hitting the scene in a bright turquoise winter onesie, silver moonboots, and a neon pink mad scientist wig, trust me, you’ll be in fine company.

And talk about One Love. In overcoming the chill of a sunless sky, you can’t deny the power of body heat emanating from hundreds of nocturnal festivalgoers. Cold is not a painful word when there’s hot chocolate, vin chaud (mulled wine), and all sorts of booze to warm you up. And let’s not forget the multiple fire pits for cosy, group bonding. Finally, the most important ingredient of the night: dancing! After only a few minutes of moving to that smooth, electro-groove, I pretty much guarantee you’ll be hot – and hooked.

P.S. If you liked my tuque and scarf (see video above), you can get your own official Igloofest gear on-site or at Off The Hook at 1021 Ste-Catherine St. W., Second floor.

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