30 Things To Do During Montreal’s "Nuit Blanche" 2016
Well Montreal, winter has once again reared its ugly head, and plunged our fair city back into a frozen hell. But, just like every year, there is one truly outstanding festival that always manages to make the best of the season and brighten up those dark nights. Throughout the end of February, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE boasts a whole plethora of fun and exciting things to do to suit all tastes, and its Nuit blanche happening on February 27, is most definitely the star pinnacle.
With literally hundreds of amazing (mostly free) events and experiences to choose from going on during Nuit blanche, we decided we'd make your lives a little easier by curating a list of what we're most looking forward to, including activities, exhibitions, food & drink, gaming, visual arts, and parties. Have fun out there! Oh, and stay warm!
Activities
MAMMOTH VILLAGE
Start your night at the Olympic Stadium, in Village Mammouth, which features features an NHL-sized refrigerated skating rink, a slide, a bar and restaurants. At 10pm, don't miss DJs Mike Robia and Sandy Duperval for fireworks and special effects!
WIBIT
Test your skills on the epic new Wibit water park attraction, where you can run, jump, slide and swim in the Big O's completely renovated aquatic installations.
CRAYSKI
St. Denis Street is transformed into a giant ski slope where you thrill-seekers out can try out 3-ski sleds and experience slalom action right in the heart of the city! Bring your own 3-Ski, or borrow one from the on-site loan service.
SWIM UNDER THE STARS
Hôtel Bonaventure Montréal invites all night owls to swim under the stars from dusk until dawn, in their "hidden" rooftop pool. Adirondack chairs, torches and fireplaces add to this magical spot suspended way above the city.
PLACE DES FESTIVALS - OUTDOOR SITE
Ride the giant Ferris wheel, sample some delicious treats, catch a free concert, and more at Montreal's favourite winter playground!
Exhibitions
OLYMPIC STADIUM EXPRESS VISIT
Discover the inside story on this marvel of modern architecture and engineering. Quick, easy and very interesting, this express visit shows you everything about the Stadium, from its Olympic heritage to the biggest events that have been held there.
POMPEII
Enjoy half-price admission ($10) and discover the popular POMPEII exhibition, presented for the first time in Montreal. Get an extraordinary glimpse into the daily life and customs of the inhabitants of this once-thriving town, featuring almost 200 archaeological artifacts.
WHEN INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTERS BECOME REAL
Grévin opens its door and invites you to discover its fantastical wax museum. At 6:30 p.m., watch a special screening of the new movie La Guerre des Tuques 3D, and starting at 10 p.m., the Grévin will turn off the lights for its first-ever visit in the dark. Magical moments and surprises guaranteed!
FLASHLIGHT TOURS
Tour the exhibits and secret spots of the Redpath Museum in the dark! Shed light on Egyptian mummies and prehistoric dinosaur skeletons with special flashlight tours led by student guides from the Redpath Museum Club and Steampunk Montreal.
EROTIC ART EXHIBITION
Step into a world where fantasy and taboo are closely bound together, while exploring desire and sensuality through the eyes of contemporary artists: Yann Perreau, Kim Thúy, Manon Oligny, yako, Johan Jansson, Roberto Segate, Ingrid Ruegemer, Faiyaz Jafri and Walter Mariga.
Food & Drink
MONDIAL DES CIDRES SAQ 2016
Shake your booty to the mad electronic violin skills of Guinness world-record holder Eric Speed, while sampling the powerful mixology of unique drinks created especially for the event.
GRILLED CHEESE BAR AND MILK BAR
Once again this year, the Milk Bar returns with a variety of hot and cold dairy beverages to enjoy, along with a delicious Grilled Cheese BAR made exclusively with Quebec cheeses! Both sweet and salty, the variety of creative recipes are sure to impress.
LA CUVÉE D’HIVER
Featuring a 1950s atmosphere, a wide selection of microbrewery beers, whisky, spirits and food, La Cuvée d’hiver is not to be missed! There will also be plenty of live music and dancing to keep you jiving all night long.
SNOW FOOD
The Quebec Street Food Association brings us a “Snow Food” culinary experience, which explores different ways of eating outdoors during winter. Enjoy seductive musical grooves while sampling from the delicious menu.
DRAWING ON ICE WITH CHOCOLATE
Draw or write on a block of ice with chocolate - need I say more!? Join the contest to create the most original signature and you may even win a gift! Then, best of all, you get to eat your tasty handiwork, and warm up with a cup of delicious onion soup!
Gaming
GIANT GAMES IN MONTREAL!
Slip into the skin of Pac-Man, play over-sized versions of L'Osti d'jeu by Randolph and other quiz games created just for the occasion by Randolph pub ludique, dance with Otakuthon cosplayers, participate in a block-building contest, and basically spend a night playing giant games! Music, fun and festivities for everyone!
PIXELS ÉPHÉMÈRES: DIGITAL ARTS AND VIDEO GAMES
Play a dozen Montreal indie video-games at Montreal's illustrious City Hall, for a unique event that showcases the world of digital arts. In collaboration with the Montréal joue festival and the Quebec Council of Media Arts. Gosford Street entrance.
MISSION : ESCAPE
Surrounded by locked doors, race against the clock to act out the story, find your escape, and become the hero! In collaboration with Montréal joue festival, test your wits and rise to the challenge of this special "escape the room" game.
QUIZ NIGHT – GAME NIGHT
In collaboration with the Montréal joue festival, The Randolph Gaming Pub presents two activities on two floors. Form a team of 2 to 6 members to try and beat the mini-Quiz (in French only) on the second floor, while the first floor will feature a wide array of party games!
JUST DANCE OUTSIDE!
As part of the Montréal joue festival, challenge your friends to a “dance-off” at the Just Dance outdoor station! Then, enter the SmartBar (18+) to discover how your phone can secretly produce music through the magic of Bluetooth.
Visual Arts
NO SKIN / SANS PEAU
Covered entirely in floral cotton fabrics imported from Brazil known as chitas, SBC Gallery is transformed into a textile factory with live capoeira and percussionist performances. Visitors will also be invited to take part in a fashion laboratory.
THE NIGHT OF THE ROPES
Showcasing circus performances and erotic bondage, with a photo gallery featuring performers from all over North America, the 3rd edition of The Night of the Ropes introduces an informed, adult audience to rope art in all its forms.
BELL ARTLUX INTERACTIVE STATION
Become both artist and model in the ARTLUX interactive station, where participants create digital artworks projected and illuminated live on their bodies and faces. This extraordinary experience will be photographed and then sent to each participant.
CAPTURING THE NUIT BLANCHE
Learn the techniques of iPhone photography from local artists including Celia Spenard-Ko, Ali Inay and Vincent Brillant live at the Apple Store. They'll teach you tips and tricks for great photo editing, review the best apps for sharing images, and give you the chance to share some of your favourite photos of Nuit blanche.
PROM!
Dress up in your fanciest, most lavish attire to dance the night away for Art Matters' Prom Night at Mainline Theatre! Check out artwork, performances, and installations, all while rocking out to live music.
Parties
LUMIÈRE NOIRE
Showcasing 50 artists who use fluorescent colors in their works and performances, and set to dreamlike electronic music, Lumiere Noire welcomes guests to a surreal ambiance fired up by the grooves of 15 talented Montreal DJs.
24 HOURS OF VINYL
Some of the city's best DJs and taste-makers play 24 consecutive hours of vinyl records at Vinyl Bar. A truly unique experience created by the Music Is My Sanctuary team, with DJ SPINNA and local DJs like Fred Everything and Christian Pronovost spinning the music marathon.
VIRÉE ROUGE
$5 gives you access to the “Lune rouge” party with Ouri and TiND at 8 p.m., Woulg and Push One Stop at 10 p.m., Orbital Mechanics Immersive at 11:30 p.m. and Adam Husa with Melesul3 at 1 a.m. in the one-of-a-kind, 3D immersive SATosphere. The frozen terrace will also be open for some fresh air under the city lights!
LA NUIT TRIBE
The Gaslamp Killer, Fred everything, Le Matos and artist MissMe are headlining this immersive, multidisciplinary event. Dance the night away and enjoy live art installations, virtual reality experiences, a food counter, and even more surprises, all under one roof.
MONTREAL LOVES DILLA – 10TH EDITION
To mark the 10th anniversary of the death of legendary producer Jay Dilla, DJ Mad Doc, Toast Dawg, Sev Dee, and DJ Manzo Ephiks welcome Detroit MCs Illa J and Frank Knitty Aka The Yancey Boys, for a hip hop evening like no other!
