The joy of Nuit Blanche Winnipeg

River Park South

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/10/2023 (823 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Billed as ‘a night of awe-inspiring art and cultural inspiration’, Nuit Blanche Winnipeg was back on September 23 for an evening festival of music, visual spectacle, and lots of fun. The threat of rain didn’t deter thousands of people of all ages from exploring fully accessible venues, and in a safe and inclusive atmosphere supported by Nuit Blanche’s safer spaces policy.

Our evening began with dinner at The Forks, packed at the best of times on a Saturday, but even more-so on this evening (adding a ‘two thumbs up’ recommendation for the The Vedge at Nuburger). We knew we couldn’t see all 50 locations located throughout St. Boniface, Downtown and the Exchange, so we focused our evening in the area around The Forks and Waterfront Drive.

The rain never materialized, thank goodness, and the festive atmosphere carried us though the next few hours. Over more than 10,000 steps, we saw, we heard, and we watched and after a brief stop at the newly relocated Sam’s Place Coffee, we were fortified and ready to carry on. From Stephen Juba Park, across Main Street to the Cube, we were entertained and inspired by a celebration of the arts in Winnipeg – indoors and out.

It takes a monumental amount of work for an event like this to happen. You need participants, but you also need organizers and volunteers. One cannot happen without the others, and to engage with Nuit Blanche Winnipeg as a member of the public is to benefit from all. Creating an opportunity for people (and pets!) to be together is a great way to build community. As several observed, there were many parts of downtown Winnipeg filled with people on this Saturday night where typically one wouldn’t venture in the late evening.

What do we do with that knowledge, which certainly isn’t news to anyone? I say we do more to be in communities outside those in which we live or work. An event like Nuit Blanche draws people from all areas of our city, and beyond, who are like-minded, curious, eager to explore, experience and learn. Many of the installations shared space with unhoused citizens, and we as participants were encouraged to respect boundaries in the public places that are meant for everyone and in whatever way they need.

Props to those who crafted an event that brought folks together to engage, exchange, and create some great memories, and in the places and spaces that we need to know about and pay attention to.