Top seasonal events in Paris include the French Open Tennis
Championships in May, the Fête de la Musique on June 21, July's Bastille
Day, the Festival Estival musical event in the summer, and the Autumn
Festival from September through December.
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 François-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 Air Show, 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: Fête 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-Elysées in the morning, fireworks at night at
Trocadéro, and (often July 13) local firemen's balls that spill
into the streets of every arrondissement.
- Late July: Tour de France, the world's leading bicycle race,
finishes on the Champs-Elysées.
- 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'Eté proof that life continues even when Parisians
seem to have left town for the summer. World and classical music,
unusual circus, dance, cabaret, theatre...Held in the Luxembourg garden,
the Tuileries garden, the Sorbonne university, the Palais Royal...
(tel. 01-44-83-64-40).
- Mid-July-late Sept.: Festival Estival of Paris features
classical music concerts in churches, museums, and concert
halls throughout the city (tickets: 20 rue Geoffroy-l'Asnier, 4e,
tel. 01-48-04-98-01).
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Autumn :
- Sept.: Fête à Neu-Neu amusement park is in the Bois de
Boulogne.
- Late Sept.: On the Journée du Patrimoine, the third Sunday
in September, normally closed historic buildings are open to the
public.
- Late Sept.: Biennale des Antiquaires (even-numbered years
only), the world's swankiest antiques fair, takes place at the
Carrousel du Louvre.
- 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 Fêtes 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 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 Sacré features concerts and
exhibitions held in churches throughout the city (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 centres 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-Elysées.
- 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
cafés and restaurants around the city.
Winter :
- Early Dec.: Salon des Caves Particulières 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-Elysées,
avenue Montaigne, and boulevard Haussmann. A giant crèche
with automatons is set up outside the Hôtel de Ville.
- Feb.: Foire à 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.
Spring :
- Mar.: Salon du Livre, the international book exposition, is
held annually at the end of the month.
- Mar.-Apr.: Foire du Trône amusement park is in the Bois de
Vincennes.
- Mar.-Apr.: The Prix du Président de la République takes
place at the Auteuil Racecourse.
- Late Apr.: The International Marathon of Paris 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 Garçons de Café is an
entertaining race through the streets of Paris by waiters bearing
full trays of drinks. It begins and ends at the Hôtel de Ville.
- May-late Sept.: Grandes Eaux Musicales is a fountain
display at the Château de Versailles (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.
- Late May-early June: French Open Tennis Championships
take place at Roland Garros Stadium.