Since the first event in 2002, Nuit Blanche has become an unmissable cultural event that has been copied in many towns in France and throughout the world. The Nuit Blanche nocturnal art trail gives Parisians, residents of Ile-de-France and visitors a chance to rediscover the city through various locations, some prestigious, others abandoned, quirky, and sometimes presented from an unusual angle or a particular perspective provided by contemporary works of art. Many museums, cultural institutions and other public and private spaces are open free of charge all night for this art event. Nuit Blanche takes place every year during the night of the first weekend in October.