Nuit Blanche draws crowd of 30,000 in Winnipeg

Amy Blaze (SRC)

Nuit Blanche at Culture Days was billed as "NO SLEEP only ART".  And that's what it was.  It all took place - mere moments ago - from 6 p.m. on Saturday October 1 until 6 a.m. Sunday morning.  Every hour, on the hour, there was something new to see, to hear, to experience, mostly in and around downtown Winnipeg. 

Kevin Walters, Culture Days Project Manager, said a record crowd of 30,000 Winnipeggers came out for the weekend.  By 1:00 a.m., 5000 people had been through the doors of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, according to WAG Director Stephen Borys.

Some came for the novelty - like watching a scantily clad lady eat fire, or to see dancers against the backdrop of Manitoba tyndall.  And how often can you watch a movie at Portage and Main at nighttime? 

For those who love dancing, there was an all night dance party in an alley of the Exchange District.  Also in the Exchange, vintage clothing store Ragpickers stayed open with a party and tour until 6:00 a.m., just because it was so much fun.

All in all, Nuit Blanche was in fact, all about "NO SLEEP only ART".  And LOTSA FUN.

Check out these photos taken near the Winnipeg Art Gallery: