4 GREAT MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE EXPERIENCES

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The MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE festival is turning 20 this year! From February 21 to March 3, take in this ambitious and memorable anniversary edition. Bundle up, it’s time to have some fun outdoors and enjoy the festival’s exciting, glittering activities, great shows, and of course the ever-popular Nuit Blanche.

For the very first time, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE presents an ultra-delicious experience with the Nuit gourmande. The evening will focus on Montreal’s culinary delights and transform the Quartier des Spectacles into a Quartier Gourmand.

Here’s a look at the festival’s highlights.

1. Enjoy winter outside

With its wide-ranging free outdoor programing – including music, comedy and a host of family-friendly activities – MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE has something for every taste and all ages.

The warm and cozy Bell chalet, in Place des Festivals, will host both concerts and DJ sets starting at 9 p.m. Featured artists include Alfa Rococo (February 21), Seba et Horg (February 22), and highly danceable sets from DJ Toast Dawg and Nerve (February 22) and Nana Zen (February 28).

The site will host a plethora of games and activities. The zip line and Ferris wheel are sure to be as popular as ever. There’s also tobogganing, an Olympic-themed sports zone (hockey, curling and moguls skiing), and numerous equally entertaining activities, like the heat generator. At the base of the Esplanade, on the Énergir stage, you’ll find shows for the whole family every day of the festival: starting at 3 p.m., Les Animeries present a strange story featuring music and magic, and at 6 p.m. the eXo light-and-fire show will amaze and delight children.

2. Feast your eyes on Illuminart

This group of luminous works, melding art and technology, casts a brilliant glow on the city. The 10 interactive, illuminated pieces showcase the astounding work of local and international artists, engineers and videographers. Don’t miss your chance to discover the world of Cyrielle Tremblay, who takes a funny and sympathetic look at winter with a trio of architectural projections called 100% Chance of Snow. HUB Studio and Civilia’s entry, Influx, uses data from the BIXI network to render Montreal’s pulse in lights, while La mécanique des Fluides, an installation and interactive projection by students from UQAM’s media program, lets you see how your actions affect the world’s glaciers.

3. Sample the world’s tastiest foods

For ten days, the Quartier des Spectacles welcomes the Quartier Gourmand to the Maison du Festival, which will become the city’s gastronomic epicentre. Among the 50-plus activities allowing you to sample your way around the world, 30 are free – you’ll experience the flavours of Japan, Portugal, India, Mexico and more. There will also be interviews with Kim Thúy and Josée Di Stasio, and talks given by well-known food personalities like Matty Matheson and Camille Becerra.

February 23 marks the first-ever Nuit Gourmande, an event showcasing specialties from all over the city. On the perimeter of Place des Festivals, revellers will sample beers, have a drink at the ice bar, enjoy a winter barbecue and even have a nocturnal brunch!

4. Conquering winter with Nuit Blanche

The festival’s marquee event is Nuit Blanche. Each year, the all-night event entices hundreds of thousands of night owls to brave the cold and take part in more than 200 cultural activities – many of them free – in the Quartier des Spectacles. This not-to-be-missed event, on the night of Saturday, March 2 to Sunday, March 3, is a great way to explore the many treasures of the Quartier des Spectacles.

What’s the best way to make the most of your Nuit Blanche? First, take the metro, which will run all night for the occasion. Start with a visit to Agora de la danse for a thrilling dance competition, head to Place des Festivals and be part of the electrifying atmosphere, and drop in at the Astral for an explosive show by Nomadic Massive. Once you’ve had your fill of dancing, grab a bite to eat and a beer to sip before checking out Illuminart. Need a few minutes inside? Make your way to the SAT for a retro-futuristic nightcap, or to the Belgo to check out the galleries. Lastly, stroll to the Quartier Latin to join the party on Saint-Denis Street, where the Montréal joue ! festival is happening. And don’t forget, there’s no need to watch the clock, because the metro will be open all night. The night starts young – and stays that way!

MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE
February 21 to March 3, 2019

ILLUMINART
February 21 to March 3, 2019

NUIT BLANCHE
March, 2, 2019