For over 20 years, Nuit Blanche has given Montrealers an opportunity to immerse themselves in local arts and culture, with numerous activities showcasing visual arts, film, dance, exhibitions, costumes, games, light, words, and music across the city all night long. This year it is taking place on Saturday, March 1st, and has been crafted around the amorphous theme of Pop: “POP culture, POP art, bursts of color, pop-ups, and POP music.” Of course, this is also a lovely occasion for those of us who want to be bumping that to those club classics all night long and still be able to take the métro home! The fact that it falls on the first day of spring break cannot be more ideal.
From personal experience, there is one thing I can say for sure about Nuit Blanche: if it goes as planned, you didn’t do it right. It’s a night to grab your most chaotic friends and get carried away by the lights from the moon, the Montréal en Lumière festival at Place des Festivals, and the mirrorball of your favorite club. Still, I recommend having a list of things that you want to see, where they are happening, and when. This is especially important if you want to enjoy cultural activities as well as the party scene. The Nuit Blanche website has a comprehensive program list of all that is being offered that can be filtered by type of activity, theme, location, and budget. Included in this article are some of the free events that stood out to me and some general advice on how to make the most of your time at Nuit Blanche.
My favorite Nuit Blanche events thus far have all been centered around music. In 2023, I enjoyed a free show at MTelus, and this year the venue will be hosting MOONSHINE LXXXIX—Nuit Blanche Edition. Moonshine is a party, typically held every Saturday after the full moon, celebrating African and afro-diasporic sounds. It is arguably a staple of the Montreal after-hours scene. The party will go from midnight to 6 a.m., and it’s bound to be one of the hottest events of the night. Last year, I saw one of my favorite Montreal-based artists, Dawn Tyler Watson, live at LeBalcon. I was hoping she’d be back, but this year’s event at Le Balcon, La Soirée Mega Pop, which is dedicated to 80’s pop music, also looks promising.
White Magic invites you to explore the world of witches at Pointe-à-Callière, featuring performances by three prominent drag artists from the House of Ghad, alongside the museum’s Out of the Shadows temporary witch history exhibition, from 7 p.m. to midnight. For Eurovision fans, drag performers will be delivering renditions of past hits at the Goethe-Institut in an evening hosted by Misty Waterfalls from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event will also feature a karaoke machine for those courageous or blasted enough to be an active part of this creative night. If you’re looking for something more low-key but thrilling nonetheless, head to Cinéma du Parc for La Grande Nuit Blanche du Cinéma Insolite, “a perilous exploration of the vaults of the American Genre Film Archive, the sanctuary of heretical and deviant cinema,” from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Finally, I must highlight some of the events happening here at McGill! Have you ever wandered around the Redpath museum and thought to yourself, “This would be so much better in the dark”? Well, then you’ll love this opportunity to explore the darkened museum with flashlights; just check out their website for more details on reservations and first come, first served free tickets! If you had midterms all week and don’t have the energy to get back out there just yet, the McGill Visual Arts Collection is holding an after-hours sketching event called “De-Stress + Sketch,” hosted at the McLennan Library Building. There are three different time slots, and while it is free, RSVP is required. Last but certainly not least, the McCord Stewart Museum is hosting a free event, “Pop Ball,” that features historical costumes, modern popular music performed by a classical trio from the Schulich School of Music (very Bridgerton-esque), and access to all 4 of the museum’s current exhibitions.
Nuit Blanche sets the scene for a memorable night out, but it’s especially important that you stay flexible. I like to have two or three options of arts and culture events to start my evening with because certain events can have unexpectedly long lines if they are free. After you’ve received your dose of local culture, you can hit up your usual clubs, bars, and live music venues. Most places are busier than usual, and I’ve learned that nothing is worth waiting too long in line for when you can likely find something just as exciting right around the corner. As long as you’re with the right people and let the night take you wherever it leads, it doesn’t matter where you go. For instance, my friends and I once tried to get into Barbossa as our last stop on Nuit Blanche. When that didn’t work out, we walked down to a karaoke bar nearby, and that was probably an even better end to the night.
Lastly, a few practical tips for Nuit Blanche: Wear comfortable shoes, know you will inevitably be cold, and pack light—as if you were going to a festival. Remember to be open, respectful, and safe; this is a night that really has the power to bring people together. And look out for the mystery métro car; legend has it that it starts circulating at 9 p.m., but I have yet to see it for myself!
