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Entering the final semester of fourth year is a bittersweet feeling. Four magical years of hard work and occasionally excessive partying are coming to a close, and you are confronted with the feeling that you haven’t accomplished anything you had meant to do when you first came to this frosty city a few years ago. What ever happened to that ambitious bucket list you made in rez? Luckily Igloofest, one of the most anticipated events of the winter season, kicked off last week, and you are reminded again why you came to Montreal: to explore one of the most exhilarating cities in the country.  

As an Igloofest newbie, a great deal of build-up and excitement led to the night’s festivities. I was promised ice sculptures galore, told of wild dance parties, and warned about frozen toes. Arriving at the venue, which was located in the Old-Port at Jacques-Cartier Pier, was a surprisingly tame and speedy experience, unlike many lines for Montreal clubs. The outdoor venue was transformed into a winter wonderland, enhanced by the recent snowfall and glowing lights. I was reminded of the retro party scene from Hot Tub Time Machine and nostalgic for ‘90s Night, as many Igloofest participants were clad in neon ski apparel and goggles (I had missed this memo). It was also refreshing to see girls dressed modestly in full piece snowsuits, as opposed to the skimpy dresses and undone coats that are usually donned in line for Tokyo.  

Though Friday the 13th is notoriously known as an unlucky day for the superstitious, I decided to take a chance and give Igloofest a try on this eve. I was not disappointed, but rather blown away by the sheer number and diversity of people gathered in minus fifteen degree weather. People aged 18 to 50 were  gyrating to the music and mingling by the ice-bars and fire pits, which were located far enough from one another so as to not melt away the icy structures. Although I am not a music maven by any degree, I must note that DJ Tiefschwarz, a brother duo from Stuttgart, Germany, turned up the heat with their edgy electro-house sound that attracted both music aficionados and those who are otherwise impartial.  

The only disappointment I felt was that, contrary to its name, there were no actual igloos anywhere to be found. Despite this, my word of advice is to not hibernate this January and sulk in your post-Christmas-break-blues. Go to Igloofest, dress warmly, get some hot pads, and buy a cool Igloofest toque. My night at Igloofest was one to remember, and at a time when graduate school applications and plans for the future are invading my brain, sacrificing my GPA for an evening of fun was worthwhile. There’s no other city where nights like this exist.

Igloofest runs Thursday through Saturday this weekend and next weekend from 6:30pm to midnight at Jacques-Cartier Pier.