Explore efficient techniques for handling large columnar datasets in Apache Parquet using Pandas and Dask in this EuroPython 2018 conference talk. Dive into the Apache Parquet data format, understanding its binary and columnar structure, as well as its CPU and I/O optimization techniques. Learn how to leverage row groups, compression, and dictionary encoding to enhance data storage and retrieval. Discover methods for reading Parquet files into Pandas DataFrames using fastparquet and Apache Arrow libraries. Gain insights into working with data larger than memory or local disk space using Apache Dask, including partitioning and cloud object storage systems like Amazon S3 and Azure Storage. Master techniques such as metadata utilization, partition filenames, column statistics, and dictionary filtering to boost query performance on extensive datasets. Understand the benefits of partitioning, row group skipping, and optimal data layout for accelerating queries on large-scale data.