Paris Events and Festivals

To attract people from all over the world to its festivals and celebrations, Paris cannot rely on its fine sandy beaches, its snow-covered slopes or its Mediterranean climate! The City of France has other resources, in particular a phenomenal energy that is capable of moving procedural and budgetary mountains… A historic event that needs to be celebrated in a worthy manner, like the 1989 bi-centenary of the French Revolution, or the Millennium in the year 2000? No problem, commissions are established, a battle plan is drawn and everyone is mobilized. The most outrageous plans are dreamt up, and some of them actually get to be carried out, such as the bizarre huge illuminated wheels that rolled down the Champs-Elysées on the night of the 31st December 1999.

On a less extravagant level, Paris offers every year a host of regular celebrations. So whenever you travel here. You will find something really exciting for yourself. Whatever the weather, the Fête de la Musique takes place every year on the evening of the 21st June. All kinds of concerts (not always, it must be said, of a high quality, but the musicians seem to believe in what they’re doing!) take place all over the city and often in the most unusual places. Good humor is guaranteed, as is the noise! The 14th July dancing in the streets – which often takes place on the evening of the 13th – is a deeply rooted popular tradition. Chinese lanterns, a bar, an accordion and the songs of old Paris are the order of the day and in a festive and good-humored atmosphere of new Paris.

Alongside these large-scale events, the various districts and sometimes even streets have their own say and put on their own outdoor festival, street-sale, concert or some such other event. Ask around and check the small posters, which you’ll find everywhere, in shop windows: these modest local get-togethers are often where you can best have a good time!

Paris Events and Festivals in summer:

• Mid-June-mid-July: Festival du Marais features everything from music to dance to theater in the churches and historic mansions of the Marais
  (tickets : 44 rue Fran ? ois-Miron, 4e, tel. 01-48-87-60-08). A similar celebration takes place at the Butte Montmartre Festival (tel. 01-42-62-46-22).
• June: The Paris Airshow, which takes place in odd-numbered years only, is a display of old and new planes and an update on worldwide technological developments in the aeronautical industry, at Le Bourget Airport.
• Mid-June: Grand Steeplechase de Paris is a popular horse race at Auteuil Racecourse.
• June 21: F ? te de la Musique celebrates the summer solstice with parades, street theater, and live bands throughout the city.
• Late June: Grand Prix de Paris, a major test for three-year-old horses, is held on the flat at Longchamp Racecourse.
• July 14: Bastille Day celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789. There’s a military parade along the Champs-Elysses in the morning, fireworks at night at Trocadro, and (often July 13) local firemen’s balls that spill into the streets of every Paris arrondissement.
• Late July: Tour de France, the world’s leading bicycle race, finishes on the Champs-Elysees (see Bicycle Tour, France, Paris page)
• Late July-end Aug.: Musique en l’Ile is a series of concerts held in the picturesque 17th-century Eglise St-Louis on the Ile St-Louis.
  (tel. 01-45-23-18-25 for details).
• Paris, quartier d’Et ? proof that life continues even when Parisians seem to have left town for the summer. World and classical music, unusual circus, dance, cabaret, and theatre…Held in the Luxembourg garden, the Tuileries garden, the Sorbonne, Paris, the Palais Royal…
  (tel. 01-44-83-64-40).
• Mid-July-late Sept.: Festival Estival of Paris features classical music concerts in churches, Paris museums, and concert halls throughout the city
  (tickets: 20 rue Geoffroy-l’Asnier, 4e, tel. 01-48-04-98-01).

Paris Events and Festivals in autumn

• Sept .: F ? te ? Neu-Neu amusement park is in the Bois de Boulogne.
• Late Sept .: On the Journ ? e du Patrimoine, the third Sunday in September, normally closed historic buildings are open to the public.
• Late Sep t.: Biennale des Antiquaires (even-numbered years only), the world’s swankiest antiques fair, takes place at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris.
• Mid-Sept.-Dec .: The Festival d’Automne is a series of concerts, plays, dances, and exhibitions throughout Paris
  (tickets: 156 rue de Rivoli, 1er, tel. 01-42-96-96-94).
• Early Oct .: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of Europe’s top horse races, takes place at Longchamp Racecourse.
• Early Oct .: The F ? tes des Vendanges, held the first Saturday of October, marks the grape harvest in the Montmartre Vineyard, at the corner of rue des Saules and rue St-Vincent (and at Suresnes, just west of Paris).
• Early Oct .: FIAC (International Fair of Contemporary Art) takes place on quai Branly.
• Oct .: Paris Motor Show (even-numbered years only) at the Porte de Versailles, Paris, features the latest developments in the international automobile industry.
• Mid-Oct.-early Nov .: Festival de Jazz de Paris is a two-week celebration that includes lots of big-name jazz artists
  (tel. 01-47-83-33-58 for information)
• Oct.-Nov .: Festival d’Art Sacr ? features concerts and exhibitions held in churches throughout the City of France.
  (tel. 01-42-77-92-26 for information).
• Nov.: Mois de la Photo. Classic and contemporary art and documentary photography on show at museums, cultural centers and galleries.(tel.01-44-78-75-00).
• Nov. 11 : Armistice Day ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe include a military parade down the Champs-Elysees.
  Third Thursday in Nov .: Beaujolais Nouveau, a light, fruity wine from the Beaujolais region of France, is officially “released” at midnight on Wednesday; its arrival is celebrated on the third Thursday in November in true Dionysian form in Cafes, Paris, and Paris restaurants.

Paris Events and Festivals in winter:

• Early Dec.: Salon des Caves Particuli ? res brings French producers to Porte de Champerret for a wine-tasting jamboree.
• Late Dec.: Christmas in Paris is highlighted by illuminations throughout the city, particularly on the Champs-Elysees, avenue Montaigne, and boulevard Haussmann. A giant cr ? che with automatons is set up outside the Hotel de Ville.
• Feb.: Foire ? la Feraille de Paris is an antiques and bric-a-brac fair held in the Parc Floral de Paris and the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement.

Paris Events and Festivals in spring:

• Mar.: Salon du Livre, the international book exposition, is held annually at the end of the month.
• Mar.-Apr.: Foire du Trone amusement park is in the Bois de Vincennes.
• Mar.-Apr.: The Prix du President de la Republique takes place at the Auteuil Racecourse.
• Late Apr.: The International Paris Marathon runs through the city and nearby woods.
• Early May: At the Foire de Paris hundreds of booths display everything from crafts to wines.
• End of May: The Course des Gar ? ons de Café ? is an entertaining race through the streets of Paris by waiters bearing full trays of drinks. It begins and ends at the Hotel de Ville.
• May-late Sept.: Grandes Eaux Musicales is a fountain display at the Ch ? teau de Versailles, Paris (Sundays only).
• Late May-early June: Festival de Jazz de Boulogne-Billancourt attracts big names and varied styles of jazz in the suburbs of Boulogne-Billancourt. (see also Paris Jazz in Clubs page)
  Late May-early June: French Open Tennis Championships take place at Roland Garros Stadium.

* On the dates of many Paris events and festivals, shops and businesses will either close or trade for limited hours, and public transport may run limited services.