BC Place Stadium

The Contact Winter Music Festival is an electronic music festival that takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre at the end of December.

The two-day event happens on a couple of weekdays right after Christmas. Last year, it took place on the Wednesday and Thursday of December 27th and 28th. Headliners included Zedd, Rezz and others.

Other things to do this time of year include visiting Christmas-themed attractions like the VanDusen Festival of Lights and the Soar with Santa film at FlyOver Canada. There is also Canyon Lights at Capilano Bridge, Martini Town Merry & Bright, and Christmas Glow in Langley.

To learn more about what’s happening in the last week of the year, see our articles about Top Things to do at Christmas, Vancouver’s December Calendar, or New Year’s Eve Parties for Adults. To learn more about the Contact Winter Music Festival, continue reading.

Contact Music Festival

The Contact Winter Music Festival has been running since 2012. It used to happen on December 26th (Boxing Day) and December 27th. In recent years, however, the dates have been a couple days later than that.

The 2023 Contact Winter Music Festival ran on Wednesday, December 27th, and Thursday, December 28th.

The company behind the festival is Blueprint. This organization also runs the FVDED in the Park music festival in Surrey in the summer. FVDED in the Park operates venues like Celebrities Night Club on Davie Street in the West End, Venue on Granville Street and the Fortune Sound Club on East Pender as well.

What to Expect

The biggest winter music festival of its kind in the country, the Contact Winter Music Festival used to happen at BC Place Stadium. However, last year’s event took place at a different venue. The festival was held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, located at 1055 Canada Place in Vancouver.

Doors opened at 6:00 pm each day and the event ran until 1:00 am.

The two-day festival highlights some of the biggest names in EDM (electronic dance music) as well as some up-and-coming Canadian artists.

At the event thousands of teenagers and young adults pack the venue, with many in varying degrees of sobriety. A fair number also dress as if at the beach in the summer (expect to see lots of skimpy clothing, bikini tops and guys without their shirts). It’s quite the party!

The Festival Stages

At the festival there are normally two stages to enjoy the music. Generally the main stage hosts the bigger groups. However, artists at the smaller stage can also be equally as good. At the time of writing this article, details about the stages at the 2023 event were to be confirmed.

The event is a large one, and tickets usually sell out in advance. The dance floor is usually full of people enjoying the music. The closer to the stage you get the more crowded it is (so if you want more space to dance, staying closer to the back is best).

Food and Drink at the Festival

Food and beverages are normally available for purchase at the venue. Options in previous years have included things like pizza, hot dogs, water, pop and various alcoholic beverages.

(Note: Two pieces of ID are required when purchasing adult drinks. Also, you are usually allowed to bring in one empty reusable water bottle per person. You are not permitted to bring in other commercially-produced beverages or liquids in your own bottle.)

Festival Concert Lineup

In 2023 the December 27th headliner was Zedd. Rezz headlined the second day of the event. Set times for all performers on both days are listed below. Exact details were subject to change.

Wednesday, December 27th

6:00 pm – Normie Corp
7:10 pm – Capozzi
8:10 pm – Ship Wrek
9:10 pm – Mau P
10:15 pm – Dabin
11:30 pm – Zedd

Thursday, December 28th

6:00 pm – Zeyda
7:15 pm – Sabai
8:15 pm – Kyle Watson
9:30 pm – Disco Lines
10:40 pm – Troyboi
11:45 pm – Rezz

Festival Ticket Prices

Tickets for the event are usually based on a tier system, so the earlier you buy your ticket the less expensive it is.

Two-day general admission passes start at $190. The cost for a two-day VIP admission pass starts at $300. Single Day tickets are also available. General admission for each day ranges from $115 to $155. Meanwhile, VIP admission for a single day costs about $210 per person.

Tips & Advice

Below is some advice and extra information to help you make the most of your festival experience.

Tips for Before and After

TIP #1: Buy your tickets as early as possible since the tiers sell out fast.

TIP #2: Pre-arrange your way home to beat the rush for taxis outside the event. This could include public transit, a ride from family/friends or maybe a hired driver.

Other Suggestions and Things to Know

TIP #1: Get through the security line fastest by arriving early (right when the festival starts). The line can get quite long later in the evening so arrive as early as you can to beat the rush. You also get the added bonus of seeing the opening acts which are usually local artists who play great music.

TIP #2: It can be hard to hear your phone inside so always have a designated meeting time and place with your friends.

TIP #3: If you have sensitive ears, or want to still be able to hear at the end of the concert, and 50 years later, don’t stand in front of the speakers. Putting a set of ear plugs in your pocket just in case you want them isn’t a bad idea either.