Bunchland

It’s time for Toronto’s all night art party

OK Toronto families, who’s excited for Nuit Blanche this weekend? This all-night art event goes from 7pm to sunrise, Saturday night to Sunday morning. We’re guessing the most family friendly times are right at the beginning, or right at the end.

Stroll around any of the zones and you’re sure to find something pretty awesome, but in case you want some set destinations in mind, here’s what we think looks good:

ZONE A (Around U of T and all the way to Yonge Street, Bloor to College Streets.)

• Slow Falls Rising. Have the kids seen Niagara Falls? Have they seen it upside down and slowed down? @ Victoria University, just east of Queen’s Park
• L’écho-l’eau. Bring your rainboots and umbrellas and jump back in time to check out a log run. Sing it with us now “For he goes birling down a-down white water…” @MaRS 101 College Street
• The Police Station. Any wannabe cops in your brood? Olde Timey cops? Watch these old timey cops “arrest” random members of the art-loving public. @ 611 Yonge Street
• Coevality. If your kids are like “but where is the art-art?” Then bring them to see this traditional paint and canvas painting projected onto a building. @ 92 College Street

ZONE B (Downtown core, University to Church and Queen to Gerrard, Eaton Centre, Y-D Square etc.)

• Face Music and Paparazzi Bots. Help robotic sculptures make music based on your face. We’re not entirely sure how this works, but it sounds cool. @ Yonge and Dundas Square
• Through Gorilla Glass. More interactive music and machines! Gorilla Glass is the substance you find on your touchscreen devices. Here you can interact with mechanical arms and get them to dance… or something. @ City Hall Roof Garden
• Flightpath Toronto. Since you’re already at City Hall, check out this interactive visual airspace. People have been talking about a zipline. @ Nathan Phillips Square
• The Heart Machine. One word: pyrotechnics. @640 Bay Street (in the parking lot)
• Dogs and Boats and Airplane Choir. Just what it sounds like, but composed by kids. @ the Atrium on Bay, 595 Bay Street
• Ride the Rocket. Ride a streetcar, but if the streetcar was an actual (virtual) rocket. @ 600 Bay St.
• Shannon’s Fireflies. Seems like this is a game of broken telephone, but you play it by whispering around light cubes. @ Trinity Square Park 527 Bay St.

ZONE C (Queen Street West from the Eaton Centre all the way down past Lansdowne, with a little Dundas and Ossington and Financial District thrown in)

• I Just Know Something Good Is Going to Happen. Imagine you stumble upon a movie set. It might appear to be raining, if they need that for the movie, but it’s not actually raining. @ Dundee Place 1 Adelaide St. East
• DYLT SMILE. Play with lightboxes! Win a lightbox! We really, really want one. @ Fort York
• The Tie-Break. OK, this one’s not 100 per cent family friendly, but might be fine if your kids are a little older. It’s a re-enactment of the 1980 Wimbleton final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe and McEnroe’s language gets pretty salty. So yeah, you’ve been warned; it’s not the best for kids but it sounds really awesome. @ Commerce Court 25 King St. West
• Soon. No idea what this is, but the description reminds us of that part in Independence Day when all the people are just waiting for the alien spaceship to open up. @Commerce Court 25 King St. West
• INFRA. A fluorescent pack of wolf sculptures. Three locations @ Cloud Gardens, Scotia Plaza and 10 Toronto St. via Victoria Street

Need a break to sit down and chat about all the awesome art installations you’re seeing? Stop in at Hall in the pedestrian walkway at 1 Toronto St. (Between Court Street and King Street East) It’s a 150 foot long table and yes there will be food vendors around.

Don’t forget to sneak a peek at the AGO’s brand spanking new Weston Family Learning Centre. They’ll be partying all night.

Photo by DSHNG DLYT via Flickr