Into the Glacier at Secret Solstice Festival

Iceland’s annual Secret Solstice Festival is known for being one of the most unique musical experiences in the world, and “Into the Glacier” is one of the events that helped it achieve this standing. As the name suggests, this event literally takes place inside a glacier – the 10,000 year old Langjokull glacier to be precise. This glacier, the second largest in Iceland, served as the backdrop for possibly the coolest dance party… quite literally.

After a few hours aboard a coach bus from the Secret Solstice Festival grounds in Reykjavik, we arrived at the base of the glacier. From there, we boarded a new vehicle with giant wheels built to withstand the glacial terrain, and began our ascent. A man-made tunnel, bored into the surface of the glacier, served as our entrance into the ‘venue’, but first, we were outfitted with coveralls, waterproof booties, and traction spikes for our shoes.

Initial headliner, Martin Garrix, was forced to cancel his appearance at the festival due to a knee injury. UK artist, Mr. G filled in, with a live 7” vinyl set filled with throwbacks and dance classics. Conditions within the glacier were, understandably, cold, but a combination of our bright blue coveralls, danceable tunes, and overall awe of our unconventional venue helped keep us warm.

There’s a commonly recited trope claiming Iceland to be the green country, while Greenland is the icy nation. However, I can confirm that there is in fact ice to be found in Iceland, and given the proper circumstances, it serves as an unforgettable backdrop for a dance party.