Your Guide to Montreal’s Sleepless Night

Posted by Riley Wignall in FringeBlog on February 26, 2014

Follow @wileyriles

Once dusk settles over Montreal on Mar. 1, the dark night truly will rise: Nuit Blanche is the all-nighter city-wide festival that makes dreams come true. From films to art to parties of all kinds, this sleepless night will be one for the ages, and we’ve compiled a guide of some of our favourite events we’ll be hitting throughout the night. Stay up all nuit to truly embrace the night—if you can.

1. 24 Hours of Vinyl 9th Edition
Date: March 1st – 7:00pm
Venue: Le Bleury-Bar à Vinyl
Address: 2109 Bleury St. , Montreal
Tickets: Free

Feeling the need to rock around the clock? This event has 15 different Montreal DJs taking a turn(table) on the vinyl platters at Le Bleury for an unforgettable music set that goes right round, like a record baby, right round until the early hours of the morning.

2. Broadway Café
Date: March 1st – 10:00pm
Venue: Segal Centre for Performing Arts
Address: 5170 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, MOntreal
Tickets: Free

Do you have a swing in your step and a song in your heart? Head to this event in Côte-Des-Neiges for an evening of musical comedy. The event looks to bring together Broadway fans to perform or enjoy show tunes accompanied by a live pianist in the Segal Centre’s ArtLounge Bar.

3. Theatre Night: Best Black and White Comedies!
Date: March 1st – 6:00pm
Venue: Crabhouse Serafim
Address: 393 St. Paul St. E, Montreal
Tickets: Free

Calling all cinephiles! Make it a Nuit Blanche et Noir with these screenings of classic black-and-white comedy films, featuring the comedic genius of Charlie Chaplin and more. Grab your bowler hat and get ready for a laugh!

4. Kino Kabaret
Date: March 1st – 8:00pm
Venue: Grande Bibliothèque
Address: 475 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E., Montreal
Tickets: Free

“Kino” is a filmmaking movement that began in Montreal in 1999 and has since grown onto the worldwide scene, focusing on the collaborative nature of movie-making as well as spontaneity. This screening will show off 30 three-minute-long Kino flicks, many inspired by Quebec cult classics, on loop for the entire evening.

5. Art.Démolition
Date: March 1st – 11:00pm
Venue: Theatre Ste. Catherine
Address: 264 Ste. Catherine St. E., Montreal
Tickets: Free

There is an old saying that what goes up, must come down. The Theatre Sainte Catherine invites the public to spend the night building up an art installation and to stick around and watch the once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit be destroyed once 3 a.m. rolls around.

6. Painting With Light
Date: March 1st – 6:00pm
Venue: Galerie MX
Address: 333 Viger Ave. W, Montreal
Tickets: Free

Prepare yourself for a freakadelic art presentation with a curious new medium. Think of the neon paint splatter masterpieces, reminiscent of the galaxy bowling alleys of your youth, teaming up with world-renowned light painter Patrick Rochon. This live demonstration and projection of previous projects might just light up your life.

7. Sugar ‘N’ Ice, And Everything Nice!
Date: March 1st – 5:00pm
Venue: Patinoire Atrium Le 1000
Address: 1000 de La Gauchetière St. W., Montreal
Tickets: Free

Showing off your inner winter Olympian has a tasty payoff. This event offers free skating at the indoor rink accompanied by the live music of folk musicians—and when you need a break, enjoy some free maple taffy and snacks. Sweet deal!

8. Kilo-Beat: Interactive Bikes
Date: March 1st – 2:00pm
Venue: Complexe Desjardins – La Grande Place
Address: 150 Ste. Catherine St. W., Montreal
Tickets: Free

With a hint of spring in the air, it will soon be time to once again break out the bicycles. In the meantime, this exhibit will get you back in pre-season cycling shape with a whole different groove. With bikes that function as musical instruments and VJ consoles, you can compose tunes with a sweat, multitasking art and exercise.

9. Rum, via Sea Chanties, Legends and Tastings [18+]
Date: March 1st – 12:00am
Venue: Le Cabaret Du Roy
Address: 363 De La Commune St. E., Montreal
Tickets: Free admission, drinks additional

If you find yourself weary and need to warm up in the wee hours of the morning, shiver your timbers down to Old Montreal, where you can play at fancy piracy with a tasting of six different rums for $30. There will be plenty of music and merry-making at this pirate party, so get your booty on down!