Montreal's Nuit Blanche features over 100 free activities from dusk to dawn.

Montreal is throwing an all-night party and you're invited. Nuit Blanche is an artistic and cultural marathon that transforms the city into an after-dark playground of illuminated art installations, free music shows and late-night museums, inviting the curious to explore into the wee hours.

Part of Montreal's Lumiere Festival on March 2, the performance offers more than 100 free events in the Quartier des Spectacles, downtown, Old Port, Plateau, Quartier Latin and Village, Mile End and Hochelaga.

If you're into art, food, music, or just looking for a unique way to spend your evening, Nuit Blanche has got you covered.

Two men in shiny suits are holding neon rings.Victor Diaz Lamich; Courtesy of Nuit Blanche.

What to do

While the programming is extensive, there are some highlights to keep you interested (the full list is available here).

In the audience circle, the night comes alive with:

• Grande Roue Lotto Quebec: For a unique way to see Montreal until 2 a.m., the giant ferry offers a panoramic view of the city lit up at night.
• Défi de vitesse Tim Hortons: Skating for those who want to test their speed on the ice located near the Grande Roue.
• Skate Canada's Spectacle Hivernal: A free figure skating show at Place Loto-Québec, featuring top talent in a series of performances beginning at 7:30 p.m.
• A mulled wine bar: A place to get a warming drink to stave off the night chill.
• 5-7 SAQ at Quartier Gourmand: From 9:15 to 10:30 p.m., an opportunity to taste Montréal Distillerie spirits accompanied by commentary from the distillery's founder, host and mixologist.

You can dance to the rhythm of the city's nightlife, which has long been energized for drinks:

• Moonshine on MTELUS: A celebration of African club culture with free entry from midnight to 6am ensures the party continues until the early hours of the morning.
• 24 hours of vinyl on the SAT: You can jam to vinyl DJs under the dome, free until 10pm, then pay until 8am.

You can see the magic behind the scenes at Maison de Radio-Canada:

• Special taping of Jeanno's BBQ: You can watch live radio at 8 p.m
• Karaoke Radio Canada: Join us for a sing-a-long night with a collection of your favorite tunes at 9:00 PM
• Sur mesure concert featuring Jeremy Dutcher: A memorable performance at 11 p.m., followed by a tour of the production studios to see where the on-air magic happens.

People cut a black and white collage at MBAM during the previous Nuit Blanche.Courtesy of Benoit Rousseau, Nuit Blanche.

Some of Montreal's museums are also open and offer:

• McCord Stewart Museum: Urban Sketchers Montreal and watercolor workshop.
• Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal (MBAM): A workshop inspired by the works of Georgia O'Keeffe and Henry Moore, at a special half price for the exhibition.
• Montreal Museum of Modern Art (MAC): A workshop inspired by Anna Binta Diallo's mural on Place Ville-Marie. You can also see Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riot's Russian exhibition.

How to become

For those whose evenings usually end when the last metro car disappears into the night, Nuit Blanche offers a rare opportunity to see the city in a different light.

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) is expanding its metro, paratransit and bus services until the morning. Those who plan to take full advantage of the nightly offers can get an unlimited Metro Evening Pass. In addition, the more you ride, the more likely you are to find a “mystery subway car” with surprises on board.

Nuit Blanche is a night where the city may not sleep, but it dreams anyway, and the only thing is a reason to go home.