Story by Linda DonahueEvery year, Parisians and visitors take to the streets for a night of revelry. This is Nuit Blanche—white night—and it’s become one of the most popular festivals in Paris.But Nuit Blanche is much more than an all night party. It’s an arts festival that just happens to take place from sunset to sunrise during the first weekend of each October. Museums, art galleries (public and private), theaters, cafés, libraries and other cultural institutions around the city stay open all night —along with the bars and clubs. And it’s all free. (The cultural happenings — not the bars and clubs.)
This isn’t a case of “Oh gee, we can go to the D’Orsay in the middle of the night.” Nuit Blanche is about bringing art into the streets. Installations are set up all over the city, and very often they frame outdoor performances of dancers and performance artists, as well as small symphonies and rock bands. Even the public city pools of Paris are open all night.
The very first Nuit Blanche in Paris took place in 2002, and in the eight years since, it’s become one of the city’s most anticipated annual events. Over a million people have been giving up a night’s worth of sleep over the last few years to participate. They come out for the colorful light installations, the concerts and the often edgy performances. Some just like to see the city all alit. For visitors, it’s a great opportunity to mingle with the local masses and get a glimpse into the more artistic side of Paris.
There are roughly five areas around Paris established for the event, each offering its own schedule of exhibitions and concerts. These include installations that impose music, lights and other multi-dimensional effects on a Parisian building, performance pieces where the crowd may even become a part of the exhibit, and concerts. Some people schedule their Nuit Blanche down to the minute, but most people get the most of it by just strolling the city streets.
Paris insiders know to start their Nuit Blanche outting early, since some of the best performances begin early in the festivities. Those who make it through the night head to the various City Halls around Paris for the free breakfast served to weary revelers. It’s the perfect ending to a night of culture in one of the most cultured city’s in the world.
This year’s Nuit Blanche takes place from sunset on Saturday, October 3rd and lasts until sunrise on Sunday morning. Parisien Salon will publish a schedule of events as soon as it becomes available.
