Toronto Nuit Blanche is back. Here’s what you need to know
Following a two-year hiatus for the pandemic, Toronto's Nuit Blanche is returning this year with public art projects from 150 artists.
The all-night showcase of public art will be “the most expansive version to date,” according to the city, and will feature installations spread out in neighbourhoods across Toronto, including Don Mills, East Danforth, Bloor-Yorkville, Sterling Road and Fort York.
“It is just so great to be back in person and we really look forward to welcoming people back to the largest Nuit Blanche we've ever produced,” Programming supervisor Jeanne Holmes told CP24 Thursday. “There are 170 projects citywide.”
The “heart” of the festivities this year will be Yonge Street, which will be closed off from Dundas Street down to the lake and across to the Harbourfront Centre. Festivalgoers will be able to experience more than 35 new works of art along that stretch.
Featured projects around the downtown core include a massive installation on the side of the Deloitte building at 8 Adelaide St. W., a 60-foot-wide water screen at the foot of Yonge Street and a 200-foot high light tipi on Nathan Phillips Square.
Elsewhere in the city, the Scarborough Civic Centre and Scarborough Town Centre will feature 15 art projects; North York City Centre, Mel Lastman Square and the Meridian Centre for the Performing Arts will host 10; and the Humber College Lakeshore Campus and Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke will host 14.
Here are some tips for planning your night:
WHEN TO GO
The event runs from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday. For many, the point is to stay out all night enjoying art. But if one wishes to avoid the largest crowds, then there are some strategies.
“It does get crowded in some of the downtown areas,” Holmes said. “Sort of the peak time for us is between like 9 p.m. and two in the morning. But if you come earlier, or you come really early, the sweet spot is that 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. period where you can see all the art, there's no lineups for anything. There's very few crowds and you really get to sort of be close up and personal with the art and the artists are often around at that time to sort of see how the projects have lasted the whole night.”
FINDING YOUR WAY
Maps will be available at 160 Yonge St., 88 Queens Quay W., 11 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr., Mel Lastman Square and Albert Campbell Square.
There is also an online map which lists all 170 locations. Those heading down can use it to plan out exactly what they want to see, or as a general guide to see where installations are located.
GO Transit will be operating regular weekend service.
WEATHER
Whether you plan to plot out your night meticulously or go where your feet will carry you, one thing everyone should plan for is the weather.
A high of 17 C is expected Saturday, but the temperature is expected to drop as low as 9 C overnight. So anyone planning to take in the mostly outdoor art installations should, at the very least, bring a sweater.
Thankfully no rain is in the forecast at the moment, but it never hurts to double check before heading out the door.
GETTING AROUND
The city is encouraging people to use transit to take in Nuit Blanche.
The TTC will run subway service all night on all four lines. Day passes purchased Saturday will work as per usual and expire at midnight.
Free entry to the system is available at North York Centre Station and Scarborough Centre Station from 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 to 7 a.m. on Oct. 2. Customers will need to pick up a paper transfer from those stations as proof of payment, though.
ROAD CLOSURES
Road closures to accommodate the event started Sept. 29, with all closures ending by around 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Here’s a list of some of the main closures that will be in effect.
Thursday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.:
- Temperance Street between Yonge Street and Bay Street and Colborne Street between Yonge Street and Scott Street will have local traffic only along a portion of the roadways.
Friday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m.:
- Yonge Street will be closed between Dundas Street and Queens Quay. East-west traffic will be maintained at major intersections along the stretch
- Queen Street will be closed between York Street and Bay Street and between Bay Street and Victoria Street
Friday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m.:
- Westbound Gardiner Expressway exit 154 to Yonge Street will be closed
- Esplanade Street will be closed between Yonge Street and Scott Street, with local traffic only along a portion of the road
Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m.:
- Road closures and restrictions will be in place on Bay Street between Dundas Street West and Richmond Street West, including Albert Street and James Street. Hagerman Street will also be closed
- Queens Quay West will be closed between York Street and Bay Street, with local traffic only along a portion of the road
You can find maps, podcast guides, virtual projects and more on the city’s Nuit Blanche website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.