SnowGlobe Festival Battles Bitter Cold but Delivers A Fire Festival Experience [REVIEW]

Lake Tahoe was bitterly cold on the 29th of December. The high was a comfortable 30 degrees and the low was a crisp 19. This didn’t stop throngs of people from piling into the SnowGlobe Festival grounds. The festival is in it’s 12th year of operation and it’s first after being acquired by MTV.

Squads of friends dressed up in matching onesies were all over the festival grounds on the first day of the festival. GoldLink and Run The Trap favorite 1788-L started off our day at the Sierra Stage, serving up slick rhymes and devastating wubs. Back at the main stage, Big Gigantic played a set of hits and classics followed by the legend Eric Prydz playing dark and progressive house with this stunning visuals package. Over at the Igloo, Anna Lunoe threw down what can only be defined as a party set, playing house, trap, midtempo, and everything in between.

Day 2 brought more matching outfits and performances by a lot of our favorite artists. Trap legend Baauer played an earlier set that showcased his unreal DJing skills. Our friends Brownies & Lemonade took over the Sierra stage for an epic B2B featuring Baauer, Wuki, Hex Cougar, and JSTJR. Trap dons RL Grime and Diplo played the closing main stage sets and our homie Ekali closed the Sierra. All three artists played to eager crowds that ate up every track they dropped.

Day three was absolutely bone chillingly cold; with a high of 27 and a low of 15, by nightfall the temperature hovered around 19 degrees and sunk every hour. Miraculously, artists and attendees alike seemed unfazed. Those with the official SnowGlobe app were warned early and frequently about the cold, and it seemed like everyone got the message. Beanies were handed out along the entranceway and hand warmers were available inside the grounds.

I spent some time watching the skiers and snowboarders throw tricks next to the main stage while waiting for NGHTMRE and SLANDER‘s Gud Vibrations set and it was awesome to watch. The boys threw down a ripper of a set, which was followed by SUMBERJACK at the Sierra. Medasin had an hour and fifteen minute long set, and played a little extra house for the crowd. Chet Porter and Manila Killa played a rare B2B set, playing their hits as well as some 2000’s pop anthems (think SexyBack, et al.). Their set was a testament to childhood fun and wonder, and they will have to start doing that a little more often.

AC Slater and Wax Motif brought in the new year in the Igloo, and it was absolute madness in that tent. The stage was crowed with friends of the artists and everyone seemed to have a bottle of champagne ready to spray on the crowd at the end of the countdown. As the clock struck twelve, stage dives ensued and many bottles were popped and sprayed on the crowd. It was raucous, over-the-top party in there.

SnowGlobe overall was brilliantly run and well organized. There were few, if any administrative errors, and every staff member encountered was inviting and eager to help. The low temperatures were easily forgotten when surrounded by a sea of people in warm coats and boots. If you’re in the Lake Tahoe area, SnowGlobe is a festival you simply cannot miss. Keep up with news about next years festival! Click here to sign up for their newsletter. We’ll see you there in December.

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Chet Porter and Manila Killa courtesy of Steven Truong.

All other photographs courtesy of the festival.

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SnowGlobe Festival Battles Bitter Cold but Delivers A Fire Festival Experience [REVIEW]