Stéphanie Grégoire – Contributor

February at Bishop’s University wouldn’t feel the same without Winterfest, one of the most anticipated events of the year. For about 20 years, Rail Jam and Winterfest concert have been long-standing favourites, drawing crowds, celebrating campus culture and bringing some much-needed warmth to the coldest weeks of the semester. As magical as Winterfest looks from the outside, it doesn’t come together with the snap of a finger. Behind the music, the ski tricks and the excitement, are months of planning, problem-solving and countless late-night energy drinks. Here’s how Winterfest 2026 took shape behind the scenes:

Planning begins long before the first snowfall

Although most people would assume Winterfest planning starts sometime after Halloween, the process actually begins in June. The earliest planning stage focuses primarily on Rail Jam: securing the rails, ramps and stage rentals, and confirming technical logistics that make the event possible. Around the same time, the team begins scouting potential artists for the concert. As summer turns to fall, the SRC Events Team grows. The Event Coordinators join the effort, and planning becomes more intensive. By September, brainstorming sessions for potential DJs are in full swing.

After weeks of research and outreach, the team secured Ian Asher, an emerging DJ from Los Angeles, as the headliner. By the end of January, the full lineup was finalized. This year’s Winterfest also spotlighted student and local talent, including DJREW, who won Battle of the DJ during O-Week, and RIENDO, an up-and-coming DJ from Sutton.

Navigating unexpected challenges

Every major event comes with surprises, and Winterfest is no exception. In November, just three months before the big weekend, the University imposed changes to the traditional Rail Jam. This meant revisiting months of planning at a moment when timelines were already tight. After a series of constructive discussions with the University’s operations teams, a solution was reached that maintained the spirit of the original Rail Jam, while making it more sustainable. Collaboration with BU Snow also played a crucial role, ensuring that the final setup delivered the level of entertainment students have come to expect and love.

The final week

The week leading up to the event can only be described as controlled chaos. It’s the last push when deliveries arrive, the structure gets built, decorations go up and every remaining detail demands attention. It is the time that requires the most coordination between all stakeholders such as Buildings and Grounds, Health and Safety, Security, volunteers and the SRC Events Team. During this week, the team finalized the decorations, prepared the Gait for Pong Palooza and the Gait Night, and set up the Quad. They also coordinated the remaining logistics with sponsors and external teams, confirmed volunteers’ roles, and completed all technical and safety checks to ensure everything was ready for Winterfest.

The people who make Winterfest possible

The event relies on volunteers, security staff, marshals, the Health and Safety team, Buildings and Grounds, Gait staff and the SRC Events Team. All of them pour hours of work and energy into making it possible. Whether it was setting up the Quad, preparing decor for The Gait, scanning tickets or putting on bracelets with frozen fingers, each person involved played a critical role in shaping the incredible Winterfest experience.

Image courtesy of John Vowles from Clickvulturemedia

When everything came together

Seeing more than 1400 students and visitors gathered on campus, bundled up in the cold, laughing, dancing and celebrating, makes every hour of planning worth it. Winterfest isn’t just another event. It’s a tradition that brings the Bishop’s community together during the darkest, coldest part of winter, exactly when connection matters most.

And Winterfest 2026 delivered exactly that: connection, celebration and memories we’ll be talking about long after the snow melts.