Nuit Blanche returned to Toronto in 2023 with a splash on Saturday night, offering 80 quirky and avant-garde installations from nearly 250 artists spread across the city for the annual free all-night art crawl.

Shifted forward from its usual early-October date, Nuit Blanche 2023 came amid a period of warm September weather, which translated to lengthy lines and large crowds for some of this year's most-anticipated installations.

The 16th edition of the all-night art crawl proved a major reduction in scope following the largest Nuit Blanche to date just a year earlier, though there was still much to see across downtown as well as Etobicoke, North York, and Scarborough.

So, did this year's theme, Breaking Ground, actually break new ground?

View a photo gallery of Nuit Blanche 2023 highlights here.

As usual, Nathan Phillips Square was a busy hub of activity, where many chose to begin their Nuit Blanche experience for the evening. The square's concrete pavers were peeled back to reveal smelly floodlit garbage — which one could argue foreshadowed the night to follow.

"Wellspring" by Jenine Marsh comments on the unrealized utopian ideals of the site #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/uNRyJkqTLK

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

It was a full-on party scene down at The Bentway, complete with dancing aliens made of recycled trash. Even those who enjoyed this year's installations can agree that there was some real garbage on display — like literal, actual garbage.

Uhhhh 😳 #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/wj2GWW81R6

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Masses converged on Yonge Dundas Square, where a spontaneous dance party broke out.

Pandemonium at Yonge and Dundas Sq. 🙌 #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/e6RpVNMpNS

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Stackt Market was another major hotspot in this year's festivities, where long lines snaked around the market to see exhibits like an inflatable marshmallow man.

Embark on a journey through the convergence of sight and sound 🤩 #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/MMa4whLOHR

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Promotional images of the installation showed off the marshmallow man positioned in an alley, but in reality, attendees had to line up for the chance to see it crammed into a shipping container.

Is it worth the hype? 🤔 #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/dwKq4j4LOn

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Multiple installations were little more than lit-up inflatable items, like a shopping bag on Bay Street south of Queen and a magic lamp near King and Bay.

It’s a giant loot bag at Bay and Richmond #15 #NuitBlanche #NuitBlancheToronto #Toronto #NBTO23 pic.twitter.com/IiggI7fQ9o

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Though many took to social media to criticize the event as lacklustre, it was a return to form for the crowd scene, aided by some beautifully mild late September weather.

Bay St. is packed for Nuit Blanche! Did you make it out this year? 😁 #Toronto #NBTO23 #toronto #nuitblanche #nuitblancheTO #TorontoArtScene pic.twitter.com/TdqlaO7H86

— blogTO (@blogTO) September 24, 2023

Those who missed Saturday night's event can still check out a handful of extended exhibits that will remain on display until Sept. 29.

View a photo gallery of Nuit Blanche 2023 highlights here.