NOTE: events are added to the calendar throughout the month.
October 31 – November 11
On a charming, cobblestone street in Belleville, the East Parisian quartier of artists and ateliers, the Association pour l’Estampe et l’Art Populaire (print making atelier and gallery) hosts an annual festival commemorating the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos in Spanish, or Les Jour des Morts en français), a typically called All Saints Day or Toussaint if you’re Catholic. It’s the festival on November 1st when we remember those who have passed on. In France, that means visiting the cemetery to put flowers on graves of loved ones. In Mexico the Dia de los Muertos is a colorful festival not just to remember the dead, but to remind ourselves to be thankful for the time we had with them, and our time left here on Earth. There is usually an altar where gifts of fruit and flowers are placed alongside candles and incense, and artworks with skeletons, aka calaveras in French. This Belleville atelier has both for their annual Jour des Morts, come check it out at their vernissage on October 31st from 6pm, or the exposition of artworks by different artists daily 3-8pm.
November 1-30
Think you’ve got a novel in you just waiting for a bit of coaxing out? Join thousands of others in France for National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. Nanowrimo France has its own group and Facebook Page organizing different events around town to help participants get to that mythical 50,000 word count by the end of the month.
November 5
Book your table at the Paris Shangri-La’s monthly “100% Green” Gourmet Dinner served in the hotel’s gorgeous Bauhinia restaurant, just €68/person (not including drinks), check out the vegetarian menu (PDF). This is an excellent meal even if you’re not vegetarian. I also recommend getting one of the “jars”, a fresh fruit and vegetable smoothie cocktail (with alcohol in it) served in a mason jar.
November 6-8
The Château Vaux le Vicomte is hosting its annual Palais au Chocolat. The palace will be decorated with chocolate artworks created by some of the biggest names in chocolate. There will also be a series of demonstrations, chocolate-making workshops for adults, special ateliers for kids, plenty of tastings, a presentation on whine and chocolate pairings, and may more sweet surprises in a magical setting. Tickets are €17.50 (€11 for kids 6-16), which includes access to the château and gardens and exhibits throughout the estate; you can reserve them in advance online. Open 10am-6pm.
November 7-15
The 40th annual Salon Marjolaine, the largest organic fair in Paris, takes place this week at the Parc Floral (Bois de Vincennes) with 550 stands selling everything organic you could imagine: produce, meats, cheeses, artisan oils, wines, essential oils, herbs, teas, cosmetics, beauty products, household cleaning products, clothing, shoes, accessories, home decor, books, gardening supplies, as well as stands for environmental tourism, different green activist groups such as Greenpeace, etc. There are also plenty of food stands for lunch onsite, a vestiaire, and a little shuttle from the metro Château de Vincennes to the entrance of the Parc Floral. Open 10:30am-7pm. Entry €10, but you can get a €3 discount voucher on the website to print out in advance. You can also see my article and video from my visit in 2010.
November 10
Arts Arena presents Janine di Giovanni, an author, award-winning foreign correspondent, current Middle East editor of Newsweek, and a consultant on Syria for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, who will be speaking about Seven Days in Syria, a Robert Rippberger documentary that follows Janine di Giovanni through the most dangerous country in the world for journalists as she bears witness to the war-torn lives of the people who remain behind. It is 7-9pm at Reid Hall (Paris 6th). Arts Arena events are designed as international or specifically French-American cultural interactions. The events are free and open to the public; however, reservations are advised, as many events reach capacity and offer standing-room only for those who have not reserved a seat. To guarantee priority seating at all events, please RSVP to artsarena@aup.edu. Each event is followed by a cocktail reception with the speakers and audience.
November 11-15
Recto Verso is a “blind” charity auction of works by 233 artists at the Fondation Louis Vuitton to benefit the Secours Populaires Français. The first four days is the exhibition, with the auction on the final day at 2:30pm (base price is €150). Free entry evenings to the Fondations Louis Vuitton, check the website for daily times.
November 12 – Seattle
Heather will be at Seattle’s Paris Eastside cooking school and French boutique for the November Sip & Meet event with copies of Naughty Paris for a special price of just $27 (cover price $39). From 6-8pm, wine and nibbles, €5/person. Come say hello if you’re in the area!
November 18-22
Shopping for some supplies for your creative projects? Head down to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for the annual Création & Savoir Faire show. Scrapboooking, knitting, gardening, baking, sewing, crafts, and decorating ideas for the holidays. Entrance €13-15, €22 for the two-day pass, open 9:30am-6:30pm (until 9:30pm Friday).
November 18
French-speaking residents of Paris looking for volunteer opportunities can attend BénéVolt, a free soirée for “l’engagement citoyen”. Bringing together volunteers with local associations to find the best ways to work together, it takes place 6-8pm at the Mairie du 18ème (outside metro Jules Joffrin).
November 19
Although it’s rather low-key in France compared to the hype it gets in America, the annual Beaujolais Nouveau festival takes place in wine bars throughout Paris today. Read all about the history and the different varieties (good, bad, ugly) and where to celebrate in Paris in this excellent article by Aaron Ayscough, The Redemption of Beaujolais Nouveau (read the 2014 update here and his current on-location exploration of the Beaujolais region here). And for fun, here’s a link to the little video I made at the Beaujolais dinner I attended in 2010 with Meg Zimbeck of Paris by Mouth and Bryan Pirolli.
November 19
Le Food Market is a monthly open-air food festival on Boulevard Belleville (between metro Ménilmontant and Couronnes) with over a dozen stands serving up tasty dishes of all kinds (kind of like a gathering of static food trucks, but without the wheels) from 6pm-10:30pm. Expect lines, it’s a popular event! You can also check out the event on FB.
November 20-21
This month brings a rare occasion to hear two of Georg Frideric Haendel’s most interesting works, Dixit Dominus and the Coronation Anthems, performed by the Paris Choral Society and soloists. They will be be accompanied by the Paris Choral Society Camerata playing Baroque-era instruments, so you can hear how the music sounded at the time it was composed. Friday, November 20 at 8pm and Saturday, November 21 at 6pm at the American Cathedral, 23 avenue George V, 8th. Tickets €23 (€11 for sudents).
November 21
The 39th annual AAWE Bazaar at the American Church of Paris (65 Quai d’Orsay, 7th), a giant second-hand sale of quality clothes, jewelry, handbags, accessories, English books, toys, children’s and baby clothes, white elephants, and baked goods. The Bazaar also continues the long tradition of American women coming together once a week to create and craft hand-made items, for sale at the Handicrafts table. Open 9:30am-7pm. Entrance €2, free for kids, proceeds go to charities in France and abroad helping women and children.
November 21-22
The Fair Trade champions Autremonde are holding their annual Braderie (bazaar) where top designer brands and up-and-coming créateurs sell their clothing, accessories and beauty products at a huge discount for a good cause at the Mairie du 20ème (6 place Gambetta, 20th), open 9am-6pm.
November 27 – January 15
Book your tickets ASAP for the thatre production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Théâtre du Châtelet (in English with French surtitles).
November 28
Zero Waste France is hosting a Zero Waste Market with local produce, artisanal products, equitable commerce items, and “upcycled” objects for sale today from 10am-6pm along Boulevard Belleville at metro Ménilmontant. Don’t forget to bring your own tote bag, this is a plastic-free zone!
November 29
Join the Global Climate March (Marche Mondiale pour la Climat) to show the world’s leaders on the eve of the COP21 Climate Summit talks in Paris that the people want action to prevent climate change. The march in Paris starts at Place de la République at noon. These marches will be taking place throughout France and in key cities around the world, and are expected to draw record numbers.
Marchés de Noël – Christmas Markets are Here!
– November 15-January 4 on the Avenue des Champs Elysées
– November 19-December 27 at the Esplanade de La Défense
– November 28-January 4 at the Place St-Sulpice (6th)
Other Christmas Markets will be opening around Paris in December, see the full list (en français) here.
November 30 – December 11
COP21 will be one of the largest international conferences ever held in France, with close to 50,000 participants including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society. COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.
Through December 31
Bartabas’ Zingaro shows combine equestrian theatre, dance, world music, poetry and many other disciplines.
After having pounded the ground of his Théâtre Equestre Zingaro for more than a quarter of a century, Bartabas is now tackling the skies with his new show “They shoot angels, don’t they? (elegies)“. Get your tickets €42-50 at FNAC.
Through January 31st
Do you like electronic music and want to experience it in a whole new way? Paris Music Club, at the Gaïté Lyrique, is both an interactive exhibition and night club with some of the leaders in the Parisian music scene. “Nestled in the lower depths of la Gaîté lyrique, Paris Musique Club is both an exhibit of augmented music and programming focused on giving carte blanche to creative collectives and labels.” Open Thurs-Fri 6pm-midnight, and Sat-Sun noon-7pm. Check it out here.
December 3
Book your table at the Paris Shangri-La’s monthly “100% Green” Gourmet Dinner served in the hotel’s gorgeous Bauhinia restaurant, just €68/person (not including drinks), check out the vegetarian menu (PDF). This is an excellent mealeven if you’re not vegetarian. I also recommend getting one of the “jars”, a fresh fruit and vegetable smoothie cocktail (with alcohol in it) served in a mason jar.
Other Paris Calendar Links
- For general events around Paris: Que Faire à Paris?
- For literary events, readings, and classes: Monthly Paris Listing
- For indie/alternative music concerts see Gigs in Paris
- For art exhibitions in galleries and museum see Slash Paris
- For mainstream events visit the Paris Office of Tourism
- For naughty events, see the Naughty Paris Guide
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