October 29 – Nov 15
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 28th from 6pm, or the exposition of artworks by different artists daily 3-8pm.
November 5-13
The 41st 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.
Marchés de Noël – Christmas Markets are Here!
Am I the only one who thinks it’s wrong that the Christmas Market opens on the Champas-Elysées before Beaujolais Nouveau? The two largest are opening mid-month this year.
– November 11-January 8 on the Avenue des Champs Elysées
– November 17-December 27 at the Esplanade de La Défense
Other Christmas Markets will be opening around Paris in December, see the full list (en français) here.
November 16-20
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 €14 per day, open 9:30am-6:30pm (until 9:30pm Friday).
November 17
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.
Through November 25
The unforgettable Paris photos by legendary photographer Willy Ronis are on display in a free exhibition “Transmission” at the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (182, rue Saint Honoré), open Mon-Fri 8:30am-8pm.
November 17-January 8
Book your seats now for 42nd Street, one of the last Broadway musicals showing at the Châtelet Theatre before it closes for renovations in February 2017. Tickets from €25.
December 3
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.
Through December 31
Bartabas, the mystical horse trainer, is back with his Zingaro company of equestrian performers for the show “On Achève Bien les Anges” under the big top at Aubervilliers. A must for horse lovers looking for a magical evening. Tickets from FNAC or online, €42 (€21 for kids). Shows Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat at 8:30pm, and Sun at 5:30pm.
Through January!
Are you a fanatic for the Tintin, the boy reporter — along with Captain Haddock and Snowy? Now’s your chance. There’s a fantastic exhibit about the Tintin series (and about its author, Hergé), at the Grand Palais. More information at the Grand Palais website.
Other Paris Calendar Links
- For general events around Paris: Que Faire à Paris?
- For literary events, readings, and classes: Monthly Paris Listing
- For mainstream events visit the Paris Office of Tourism
- For theatre with English surtitles visit Theatre in Paris
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