Piknic Électronik is a Sunday ritual for many McGill students and Montreal locals alike, transforming Parc Jean-Drapeau into a pulsing hub of music and good vibes for five months straight. With the festival running weekly outdoor music events from May to October, it runs the full gamut from spring to fall, making us wonder how Piknic’s experiences vary throughout the seasons.
Starting with the constants: Across all seasons of Piknic Électronik, students from each category generally reported high levels of satisfaction with the price of tickets and food options.
“$25 CAD [for one entry] was a very good price for the experience,” Nell Casey, U1 Arts, told The Tribune after attending Piknic this past spring.
The festival also offers a discount for students with their popular “Back-to-school” pass. Priced at 60 CAD, this pass gives festival-goers access to all regular Piknic Electronik events starting Aug. 25, making it especially attractive for those looking to attend at the start of the fall semester.
The outdoor venue’s two main stages showcase different artists throughout the night. Food and drinks are also available making it possible to take breaks and refuel before getting back out in the crowd. “There were many food trucks that had a lot of fast food like hotdogs, poutine and grilled cheese sandwiches,” Juliette Whitecross, U1 Science, said.
Casey also mentioned that the possibility of attending Piknic at different times during the year allowed students to balance academic priorities and fun events.
“[I] liked it better in the summer because in the fall I have more classes and work to do, and it would be stressful to attend as many events,” Casey explained.
Zoya Mirza, U1 Arts, who went to Piknic events during both the summer and fall, expressed more enthusiasm towards attending during the spring as a way of letting loose and having fun after the school year comes to an end.
“The combination of post-exam relief and celebrating the beginning of summer break really topped the experience,” Mirza stated.
The students we spoke with also observed changes in the festival’s demographics throughout the year; they noticed more McGill and Concordia students at Piknic during September and October, while they found that Montreal locals preferred to attend during the spring and summer months.
“[I] personally liked Piknic during the summer because of the temperature, but I think it could be more fun during the fall if you want to meet people from McGill or Concordia because in the summer, most of the people there were in their mid-20s,” Whitecross said.
Casey noted the same trend, but she still enjoyed the festival during the summer months. “Even though it was not the regular school year, I still saw a lot of McGill students and had a lot of fun,” she highlighted.
Mirza, who attended Piknic both with and without the bustling crowd of college students, found the early-season festival events to be more enjoyable. “Honestly, it felt so refreshing with fewer McGill students around after exams and the school year ending,” she said.
Factors such as school work, crowds, and the festival’s overall ambiance shaped these students’ enjoyment of their Piknic Electronik 2024 experience across the spring, summer, and fall months. While some preferred a festival crowd full of university students, others enjoyed the differences in attendees and a step away from the McGill bubble. In addition, this iconic Montreal festival’s months-long season made it especially appealing to students who could take part in the event whether school was in session or not. Ultimately, Piknic Électronik stands out as a beloved cultural staple in Montreal, offering a vibrant and flexible festival experience that resonates with both McGill students and locals, regardless of their academic commitments or seasonal preferences.
