Paris Events Calendar – September 2013

September 1-15
The bandstand of the Parc Floral botanical gardens in the Bois de Vincennes (12th, M° Chateau de Vincennes) hosts the Festival Classique au Vert  classical music concerts by international musicians every Saturday and Sunday from 4pm-6pm. Entry to the gardens €5.50. The gardens also have playgrounds, a butterfly house, photo exhibits, and gorgeous floral displays, of course! 

September 1-15
Missing the beach this summer? Stop by Glazart to enjoy La Plage, a pleasant beach atmosphere + sand, all inside you favorite 19th arrondissement bar. Free entry and free music most days.

September 1-15
Transport yourself to 1912 at the Titanic shipwreck exhibit. This collection of artifacts from the famous ship has been viewed by over 20 million people worldwide. It promises to spark the imagination and send shivers down the spine. Entry €12.90 to €15.90.

September 1-28
Le Maxi Monster Music Show is not your typical music spectacle. This show invites you to discover a bizarre cabaret of gypsies, bearded women, strongmen, the macabre, the strange and the mystical. The theatre is located in Montmartre, and tickets start at € 20.

September 1-30
The historic Art Deco restaurant La Coupole (102 blvd du Montparnasse, 14th) is hosting an exposition of eight young Parisian graffiti artists: Alex, 6pack, Done, Moon one, Hopare, Esper, Stack, and Brok. Open free to the public, open daily 8:30am-midnight. 

Through October 5 
Don’t miss one of the most magical events of the summer, the Candlelit Evenings at the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, just an hour south of Paris by RER and shuttle. Visit the family-owned palace and gardens that inspired Versailles by candlelight, including dinner in the gardens (or bring your own picnic) and a fireworks finale. Every Saturday evening, entry €19. 

Through October 13
The 30th annual funfair carnival, the Fête à Neu Neu, opens on August 30th in the Bois de Boulogne (Porte de la Muette, 16th, M° Rue de la Pompe) with several special events: a Carnival party on the 31st August; a flea market Sept 7-8; fireworks show Sept 14th; Portugese folklore night Sept 15th; and a Brazilian Carnival party Oct 5-6. Open 2pm-midnight Mon-Fri, and noon to midnight Sat-Sun. Free entry, ATM, Vélib station, food tents and rides (tickets purchased onsite). 

September 1
La Fête de Ganesh is a colorful and musical parade through the Little India district of Paris to celebrate Ganesh, the Hindu god with a human body and an elephant head. It begins with a religious ceremony at the Temple de Sri Manicka Vinayakar Alayam (17 rue Pajol, 18th), and the procession starts at 11am through 3pm from the Rue Perdonnet to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Rue Marx Dormoy (around noon), Rue Ordener, Boulevard Barbès, Rue Labat, Rue Marcadet, and returning by Rue Ordener (2:45pm), Rue Philippe de Girard and Rue Pajol. 

September 7
Attention men with facial hair (all you Parisian bobos and the women who love them): Nicolas Ullmann’s Splendens Factory is hosting the legendary Parisian barber Alain Barbier for a free “Open Barbe” event noon-8pm (sponsored by biotherme Homme, who will have their products for sale at a pop-up store on-site). You can then commemorate your pretty shaved self with a photo shoot and then enjoy cocktails and music. What’s not to love? 

September 7 
Le Grand Feux is one of the biggest fireworks shows in Europe, taking place on the edge of Paris in the Parc de St Cloud from 9pm-11pm. Tickets are €28 (lawn) to €78 (seated) and €128 for VIP area access. Get tickets at FNAC. See videos from previous years here.

September 13-15
La Parisienne is a women’s race to race awareness and money for breast cancer research and prevention. The first two days are filled with special events, classes, demos, food, health sessions, stands, and training sessions. This year’s theme is Japan, so there is much on Japanese food and culture. The 6k race takes place on Sunday with 600 musicians providing entertainment along the way.

September 13-15
The annual Fête de l’Humanité is three days of live music (65 acts including headliners M, Archive, Tryo, and the National Orchestra of France celebrating its 80th anniversary), the Jamel Debbouze Comedy Club, debates (because the French love a good debate), arts and cinema expositions, a bal populaire, a 10k run, a book fair, and activities for kids. The main sponsor/organizer is the daily newspaper L’Humanité, whose motto is “Envie de Changer Le Monde” (The desire to change the world), so you can imagine it’s quite a leftie leaning festival where politics, social justice and liberty are the main stars. This year it takes place in La Corneuve (northeast suburbs), and three-day passes are just €30 (camping and parking also possible). 

September 14
The wonderful Château Vaux-le-Vicomte is hosting the Dîner des Muses. Bring your dinner for a memorable candlelight evening in the French formal gardens of the château palace that inspired Versailles. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the 17th-century landscape architect André Le Nôtre, Vaux le Vicomte’s garden will be illuminated by more than 2 000 candles. Tables and chairs will surround the “Miroir d’Eau” water fountain, where guests dressed in white (with green touches) bring their dinner, and table decorations for an elegant open-air picnic with a fireworks finale. Different prizes will be awarded for the most creative and elegant tables. Tickets €30. Public transportation from Gare de Lyon with a shuttle from Gare de Melun. 

September 14
Get out your earplugs, it’s time for the 15th annual Techno Parade de Paris! It starts at the Place de la République at noon, passing through Place de la Bastille, and finishes at the Place d’Italie on the Left Bank. 

September 14-15
This weekend is the 30th annual Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, or Heritage Days.  Over 350 historic sites will be opened to the public in Paris, many which are only open for this occasion. See the full schedule at the website (click on “langue” at the very bottom of the page and it will reload into English…well, auto-translated English!). Some of the obvious sites like the President’s Elysée Palace will have long lines, but many other sites are happily free to visit or participate in a free tour. 

September 15
The Fête de la Cave des Papilles celebrates natural wines and fine food with live jazz, at the Cave des Papilles (35 rue Daguerre, 14th) from 11am-6pm.

September 16-21
Paris Welcomes American Artists at Atelier Z, Madame Christiane Peugeot’s Cultural Center (62 ave de la Grande Armée, M° Argentine or Porte Maillot) daily 2-7pm. The ten artists whose work is featured are: Lane Duncan, Paige Harvey, Robert Calcagno, Wayland Moore, Serge Ruffato, Jill Steenhuis, Rhett Thurman, Suzita George, James Sutherland, and Kim English. There will be a reception on September 19th 6-9pm. All welcome, free entry. 

September 16-22
“Everyone to the Restaurant” is the theme of Tous au Restaurant, a weeklong festival promoting restaurants in France. This year two people get to eat for the price of one in participating restaurants, or as they say, “Your guest is our guest”. The site is partially in English, just click on Evenements to see the list of restaurants in Paris. Reservations open September 9th. And fill up fast!

September 18
The Apéros Bordeaux Expériences are back with a soirée for Bordeaux wine lovers that includes red, white and sweet wines from €3-€5/glass, finger foods to accompany the wines, ateliers to learn more about the wines from the actual wine growers themselves, Dj music and a chance to win a trip to Bordeaux. Limited space, sign up to attend. At Kfé Court in the 16th from 7-10pm.

September 19-22
As part of the 16th arrondissement’s La Semaine dela Grande Bretagne, there will be a British Market at the Mairie du 16ème (71 ave Henri Martin, 16th, M° Rue de la Pompe) open 11am-6pm with a fish & chips food truck, English beer stand, a British tearoom hosted by the Tea Caddy, British books from WH Smith, British food products and home decor from The British Shop and even clothing from Barbour. You can enter to win trips to the UK. Free entry. Download the program here.

September 20
Take back the city by transforming parking places into flash gardens for a day. Organized throughout France by Guerilla Gardeners, Parking Day is open to anyone who wants to participate in this fun and creative reminder that even city slickers could use a little more green in their lives.  

September 20-22
Wonder Vintage, the “best vintage market in Paris” is back for three days at the Espace Commines (17 rue Commines, 3rd) with fashion, home decor, accessories and other vintage items. There will be live music, a vintage beauty parlor, photo booth, snack stands, and contests to win prizes. Open Friday 3-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-8pm. Entry €3.

September 20-22
The international stars of the classic and contemporary ballet worlds unite onstage this fall for the 16th annual Gala des Etoiles du XXIème Siècle at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Tickets at FNAC from €41-€98.

September 21
The Grands Ecuries at the Château de Chantilly is hosting an exceptional classical music concert tonight under the historic stable’s grand dome. The internationally renowned wind Quintet Moraguès will be accompanied by the pianist Olivier Cazal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of the composer Francis Poulenc. And to celebrate the reopeneing of the Musée du Cheval, every attendee to the concert will recieve free entry to the museum. Buy tickets online here.

September 21-22
The 6th annual Culture au Quai is a free cultural festival on the quays of the Bassin de la Vilette (Quai de Loire, 19th, M° Jaurès), including contemporary art stands, live music, live theatre and dance performances, and activities for kids. Come on down for a stroll and check it out, plenty of surprises to discover! The program is here.

September 21-22
The 15th annual Fête des Jardins takes place this weekend with guided tours, live music, workshops and other activities in the city’s gardens. The main “village” takes place at the Parc de Bercy’s Maison du Jardinage, with more events at 100 parks and gardens in and around Paris. It’s a great way to discover some lesser-known green spaces in the city and to get ideas about your own little patch of urban greenery, even if it’s just your window box! See the website for the list of gardens and events by arrondissement. There’s a special €9 rate for the Batobus for the day with your Fête des Jardins program.

September 23-October 22
Petit Bateau is hosting a pop-up store for adults in the Marais at 11 rue Debelleyme, daily 11am-8pm. There will also be shoes by Spring Court, and crêpes on Saturday afternoons (because Petit Bateau’s stripey sailor shirts remind us of Brittany, of course).

September 24
The famous Parisian graffiti artist André returns to the streets…well, if you can call Galeries Lafayette the streets! He’ll be inaugurating Fashion Week with a live tagging on the giant poster hanging on the department store’s facade (using rappelling equipment, apparently) from 8pm. The hype machine will surely attract a ton of press to an already crowded street, but if you’re in the ‘hood do check it out!

September 28-29
Steampunk fans in France won’t want to miss the 2013 Euro Steam Con, hosted by Steampunk France. There will be a conference with Steampunk Guide author Arthur Morgan, a steampunk-themed picnic, and a gala event with the Maxi Monster Music Show on Saturday with a steampunk-themed market. A whole lotta steampunking going on! Tickets to the events on sale at the Alhambra for the Saturday events. 

Other Paris Calendar Links

• For literary events, readings, and classes: Monthly Paris Listing.
• For indie/alternative music concerts see Gigs in Paris
• For art exhibitions, museum news and openings see Paris Muse.
• For mainstream events visit the Paris Office of Tourism.
• For naughty events, see the Naughty Paris Guide.