This past weekend I got to experience the BMW M Festival in Bowmanville. From lightning-fast driving experiences to great crowds and all-around VIBES, the festival was definitely a big hit.
Not only was this the first-ever North American iteration of the BMW M Festival, but it also completely sold out! If you weren’t lucky enough to be in attendance, then we’ve got the scoop on everything you missed out on.
Driving Experiences
The M Festival really brought the heat with some insane driving experiences. They had everything from 240 km/h laps with BMW Factory Works drivers like Jesse Krohn and Tom Blomqvist, to drag races and autocross exercises. BMW enthusiast or not, these driving experiences were once in a lifetime. My personal favourite was the M2 lead and follow. I mean we’re racing M2 cars on the track! It happened to down pour briefly during my experience which made it that more intense and fun! Made some great drifting around corners and bends. Absolutely fell in love with that car and definitely gained a new appreciation for BMWs and M class engines. The other fan favourite and “a pure adrenaline rush” as some BMW fans described it, was the M5 Hotlaps where the BMW factory drivers took guests around the track at top speeds of 240 km/h!
There were even drive experiences that accommodated the whole family! At the Kid’s Lounge, you could ride BMW Baby Racers and BMW Kids Scooters. With over 3,000 track experiences enjoyed, the M Fest was a real standout whether you’re a BMW fan or family man.
Activities
There was more than just drive experiences here. With over 70 BMW M models provided for the event, you could check out all the new features and styles BMW M has to offer. Wishing you could give a little feedback on the cars? The event featured a “Best of the Fest” competition where you voted on the most unique retailer-designed vehicle at the festival.
Looking to witness more hardcore drives? You could head over to the skid-pad for insane feats of drag-and-drift. Shopping more your style? The BMW Lifestyle Boutique was right on hand. Whatever gets your engines going, the M Fest had it all.
Entertainment
While the entire festival was pretty much full of entertainment, they capped off each evening with performances Serena Ryder and Felix Cartal as well as Dear Rouge and Jane’s Party.
This was truly a festival that made every adrenaline junkie’s dreams come true.
The VIBE
The M Fest was a major success especially given its first time in North America. It brought together BMW and car enthusiasts alike. This was truly a great place to experience the BMW cars like never before but also network and meet some other super fans. I felt connected to other like-minded BMW enthusiasts and got re-invigorated for my love for BMW cars.
It had a great festival VIBE, buzzing with young adults, families, and all types of people. Whether you’re a super fan or not, the M Fest was a sweet spot to have some fun for the weekend and experience some unique stunts anyone could enjoy.
This is what summer is all about: cars and festivals! Here’s hoping the BMW M Fest comes around again next year!
