A giant inflatable locust, made by an artist from the land that created Godzilla, floated over a Toronto stadium Saturday during the all-night celebration of the arts called Nuit Blanche.

Japanese artist Noboru Tsubaki, who brought the 50-metre hot-air filled locust, was one of 500 artists who contributed to the event, which kept thousands of Torontonians from their beds.

Tsubaki's locust, which he first displayed in Yokohama in 2001, is a critique of globalization and its giant corporate entities.

The messages delivered by other international artists participating in the event ranged from the tactile to the surreal.

Three areas in downtown Toronto were turned over to art and performance events, with three curators selecting artists to participate.

Curator Camilla Singh says she selected creations that would turn Toronto venues into something other-worldly.

"The supernatural city and entering into dreamspace and unleashing the imagination and sort of crossing into thresholds," she said.

From the fog-filled Casa Loma stables to the performance artists in a former strip club to the all-night rave in a city park, Nuit Blanche gave Toronto art that was meant to be experienced.

The event, based on a similar festival begun in Paris five years ago, pulled 425,000 revellers in 2006, its first year.

This year's head count is not yet in.

"One of the themes of the evening is discovering art in unexpected places —alleyways, street corners, churches, squash courts, demolition sites," Jaye Robinson, Toronto director of special events, told CBC News on Friday.

"You'll even see stuff at car dealerships that is art-based."

Craig Walsh turned a storefront in a rundown part of the city into an aquarium, as a way of drawing attention to the quality of the urban environment.

"Seeing the city in a different way is what art can do … maybe translate it into a different world for a night," Walsh said.

"That's gotta be good and hopefully that's ongoing and … maybe the public of Toronto [will] start using their city in a different way."