Staying out all night is nothing new for Parisians, but this weekend, they will do so in the name of art. This Saturday, October 3, Paris’ Nuit Blanche returns for its 8th year. This free annual event (which translates roughly to “sleepless night”) celebrates art’s integral role in the life of the city and its diverse communities.

While this year’s fete has no explicit theme, it is dedicated to the notion of exploration, and visitors can follow prescribed “dream-like trails” mapped out in various Paris neighborhoods. As in years past, the Marais will form the center of the event, but exhibitions and installations will be featured in northern Paris (in and around the Parc Buttes-Chaumont) and on the Left Bank (in the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Latin Quarter).

From sundown until sunset, artists from around the world will display their work in the city’s churches, galleries, museums, parks, theaters, and plazas. The art itself ranges from photo and painting exhibitions, to performance art, to musical performances, to interactive installations. Featured artists include Doug Aitken, Vincent Olinet, Nathan Coley, and dozens of others.

All venues and exhibitions are free and open to the public throughout the night. Designated pubic transport (metro lines 11 and 14 and night buses) operate all night long to help facilitate the event.

For more details and to download a full program with a map of the “dream-like trails” (in English), visit their website.