Winter Pride Whistler BC
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In our deep exploration of electronic music events around the world, one scene that has a continued and strong support for house music is the gay circuit party scene. However, the Winter Pride Festival in Whistler BC breaks out of the mould of being strictly about partying and adds an assortment of extravaganza's including skiing/snowboard at the number one ski destination of the world - Whistler BC.
In fact, Whistler BC opens it's arms to celebrating Winter Pride by hosting events throughout the high class village full of 5 star resorts for a full week which went from February 3-10 2008. Some of the highlights included:
- Debra DiGiovanni (from Last Coming Standing) performing at Comedy night
- Soo Valley Dogsled Tour teaching you the basics of driving your own sled by a team of Alaskin racing Huskies
- Skin Care seminars to teach you how to repair, prevent and protect your skin
- interPride Banquet which featured a performance by Cirque Du Soleil
- Mountain guided skiing/snowboarding on Blackcomb and Whistler
- Health and Wellness Seminars
But that's not all! Two of the biggest parties included the Mountaintop Dance and Snowball all night party.
The Mountaintop Dance is an out of this world experience; you don't get a chance to do this very often at all. Here's why...you have to take a Gondola (exclusively kept open at night for this event) which takes you 7000ft up Whistler Mountain to party at the panoramic Roundhouse lodge with headlining DJ John Miller from Atlanta. Quite a surreal experience partying with over 1000 other people in a desolate lodge surrounded by several meters of snow!
And that is just the beginning...warming you up for the full night party Snowball at the stunning Whistler music conference center. Located right in the center of the Whistler village this conference center is transformed into a party that not only celebrates music but also the diversity, pride and joy that makes WinterPride what is it is today. As you walk up the stairs of the conference center your first glimpse is a huge glass room with a massive 6 foot tall fireplace.
But this is only the lounge area! Next. you walk into a dark corridor leading you into another massive room where your senses are stimulated from all angles. Attractive bartenders on the outskirts serving drinks by the hundreds, middle stage for performers and dancers with an incredible lighting and laser system, a colourful DJ booth featuring DJ David Knapp (www.myspace.com/djdavidknapp) and performers coming at you from every angle. The flavour of these nights is circuit house music consisting primarily of remixed tracks of the most popular pop tracks overlaid with electro and techno beats. Quite a celebration indeed where no one is excluded and race, religion, or sexual orientation is thrown out into the cold. As you probably know this was exactly what the first house movement was about. Electronic infused music which drew together people from all backgrounds and united them with one common element - the love of the music! Gay or straight or whatever wouldn't it be nice if house music returned to these roots and focused on the values of enjoying an experience where everyone could be just a little crazy?
In a nutshell Winter Pride shouldn't be looked at an event for only one people of a certain sexual orientation, but an event which brings together people from all over the world with different backgrounds and different cultures to celebrate freedom and the evolution of mankind. Add a little partying and skiing/snowboarding at a world class mountain and what else could you ask for? Did you get a chance to experience Winter Pride in Whistler or another city/country? State your opinion!
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