Toronto fell over itself for Stranger Things at Nuit Blanche

Nuit Blanche is no stranger to lineups, but Toronto's love affair with Stranger Things remains uncanny. The Red Forest, a Netflix-based interactive exhibit featuring some of the streaming service's most popular shows, might have been the busiest stop at this year's festival.

Go figure that a corporate activation drew huge crowds at an event that was thematically organized around protest and resistance. Along with hype related to the return of Stranger Things and Riverdale, the other reason the exhibit was so popular is that it was completely intriguing.

The lineup for #TheStrangerThings 'The Red Forest' installation @nuitblancheTO keeps on growing #nbTO17 pic.twitter.com/e12crZD8uo

— blogTO (@blogTO) October 1, 2017

Those who withstood the hour-long lineups got to dress up in hazmat suits before exploring a cinematically lit and totally eerie environment that seemed worlds apart from the shipping container city located a few hundred feet away at Nathan Phillips Square.

The #NetflixRedForest is the best thing you'll see tonight! #nuitblancheto #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/WKg3AykSZd

— MeLiSsA dACrUz (@MelissaDacruzz) October 1, 2017

It wasn't exactly the Upside Down, but the odd combination of Riverdale and Stranger Things was visually compelling enough to garner buzz throughout the night.

If Nuit Blanche's chief calling card is spectacle, this certainly fit the bill, though some visitors were underwhelmed after all the hype the exhibit received beforehand. Meanwhile, others were just confused by the presence of people in hazmat suits.

It doesn't sound like anyone was particularly worried. As one passerby put it, "don't worry — it must be Nuit Blanche related."