This year we were very fortunate to have been invited to the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE and Nuit Blanche festivals in, you guessed it, Montreal. The best part is that for one weekend the two festivals combine and you just get one weekend of absolute craziness. While most Canadians may hide from the cold nights in the middle of the winter, Montrealers celebrate it and get outside to explore. They don’t let a little thing like cold weather stop them.
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE:
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is one of the largest outdoor winter festivals in the world. Blending together, pretty much everything that makes Montreal the amazing city that it is, festival-goers are in for some pretty cool experiences. Experiencing the performing arts, gastronomy and family outdoor activities will make you fall in love with winter again. The festival takes place over a 2 week period so there is plenty of time for you to enjoy the activities as well.
Nuit Blanche
Nuit Blanche on the other hand only lasts for one night but it lasts all night (if you can make it). With an average of 300,000 other people in attendance, you definitely won’t have to feel alone. It was such a cool feeling wandering through the underground and streets of Montreal with so many other people enjoying the unbelievable artwork. Over 600 artists, local and from around the world, come together to share their best work.
Last year was the first year the festival integrated Illuminart into the program and I’ll admit it was definitely my favourite part. Illuminart consists of a circuit of illuminated and interactive tech projects dotted throughout the festival. The light fixtures look incredible at night.
The best part about the events? THEY ARE FREE!
How could you not get ready to book your flight to Montreal next year?
| Where to stay for MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE |
If you’re coming from out of town like we were, Montreal is no stranger to hosting tourists. There are so many different hotels you can choose from. For this trip, we were looking for something that was budget friendly but close to everything as well. Hotel Zero 1 was the perfect place.
Hotel Zero 1 is steps from the festival itself and it’s also steps away from Old Montreal. We found it incredibly easy to get to the places we wanted to visit in the city from the hotel. The rooms are nice and big, it was plenty of space for two people. I think my favourite part of the hotel was the bathroom, the shower was a standing shower and really well laid out. The decor is also really cool in the hotel, with the colours dark, hip and really modern.
The added bonus? There’s breakfast in the Tapas restaurant downstairs every morning. As one who loves free breakfast, this was definitely a plus. There was everything from croissants to eggs to yoghurt and granola. The best part was definitely the coffee, especially after spending all night wandering through and admiring the artwork.
| Where to eat for MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE |
That’s the common question for anyone visiting Montreal, where the heck do we eat? It’s almost like there are too many choices to choose from, how do you really pick? First and foremost, the festival actually has some pretty decent food trucks.
I’ll never say no to a Beaver Tail although I’ll admit I’m boring and usually just go for the natural cinnamon and sugar. Ben went a little crazier and got an Oreo Beaver Tail and loved it. Don’t worry, they aren’t real Beaver Tails, it’s essentially fried dough with delicious toppings.
There was also a grilled cheese truck, a poutine truck and of course, you can’t miss the SAQ igloo. There’s enough food on site that you really don’t have to go anywhere else to eat. But you’re in Montreal so of course, why wouldn’t you?
Blumenthal is a not only pleasing on the eyes but the food was absolutely incredible. Located right in the heart of the festival grounds, they had a special 3-course menu during our stay for us to enjoy. I’ll admit half of the stuff I didn’t know what I was ordering but I will tell you I ate every last mouthful. I would strongly encourage you to enjoy a bottle of wine as well. Their list is very extensive and they have an onsite Sommelier who will help you with any questions you might have.
A bit further out of town but perfect for that Nuit Blanche hangover is Le Valois. You absolutely must make reservations in advance. When we walked in, every single table was reserved on Sunday morning. It wasn’t hard to see why the food was so good! The best part? Instead of the normal toast, you get in some places Le Valois gave you half of a baguette! There’s nothing Ben and I love more than a baguette (sadly that’s true).
| Festival alternatives |
I’m not really sure how you could actually be tired of them but if you’re looking for some time out from the festival life, there are of course some other things you can do to keep busy. It is Montreal after all. We had a great time checking out the Leonard Cohen exhibit at MAC. The festival grounds are actually located around the museum so you won’t have to travel far to escape the noise and bustle outside. It was a beautiful exhibit with many different rooms showcasing not only Cohens life works but also artists that created pieces in his honour.
We also ventured over to the Napoleon exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. It was my first time at the museum and I was impressed. The collection was vast and detailed. Something you would expect to find in a European museum, not Canada.
Old Montreal is one of my favourite places to walk around as well. The buildings are historical and make for such gorgeous photos. The streets are filled with amazing restaurants, art galleries that will make your mouth water and souvenir shops. While I can imagine the streets are jam-packed in the summertime, it was pretty nice strolling around in the winter enjoying the space.
If you’re looking for an amazing adventure in the winter months, you absolutely need to consider MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE and Nuit Blanche. Not only will you experience the amazing artwork, festival activities and amazing food but it’ll also have you falling back in love with winter!
Thanks for sharing this post, due to this post I have heard about this place for the very first time.
I’m so glad, hopefully you get the chance to check it out next year!