What’s On in Paris – March 2022

Note that the Pass Sanitaire is still required in most monuments, concerts, and other entertainment venues UNTIL MARCH 14th. Masks will no longer be required anywhere except public transport and medical facilities starting March 14th as well (it’s smart to keep one on you at all times just in case).

Daylight savings in France takes place at 2am on Sunday, March 27th.

Through March 6
Check out the highest skating rink in Paris on top of the Montparnasse Tower. Tickets include skates, 30 minutes on the rink (synthetic rink, not actual ice, ahem), and access to the observatory. Please note that gloves are not provided but are strongly recommended. Tickets €20. Pass vaccinal (or Saintaire for kids) and masks required.

Every Weekend through March 6
The Cité Fertile, a “Third Space” in the Parisian suburb of Pantin, transforms into La Cité des Merveilles every weekend through March at their massive space dedicated to sustainable living. On the program of this fun fair are sweet and savory street-food stands, different eco-responsible Christmas markets every weekend in December (see the schedule here), live music, a labyrinth, games and attractions for young and old, and a magical atmosphere where tree-huggers have a good time! Free entry (tickets for the flying chairs ride sold separately), open Sat noon-1am and Sun until 8pm. Exceptionally open Friday Dec 10th 6pm-1am and open daily February 19th-March 6th.

March 8
Tickets for the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros (May 16 to June 5) go on sale today. Book ASAP to get yours, they always go fast! Note: never buy tickets through any website if it’s not the official Roland Garros or their official agencies; there are tons of fakes out there!

March 9
Come skiing, sledding, skating, and trying your hand at the biathlon at the AccorHotels Arena (Bercy Stadium), a special 3-day event to celebrate the winter Olympic games currently taking place in China and get Parisians in the mood for the 2024 Olympics taking place here in the City of Light. On the program: initiations, virtual reality experiences, and performances around bobsleigh, skiing, and other ice sports including…curling! “Starting at 5 pm the ice rink will be transformed into a show on ice interspersed with free practice sessions for the general public. The shows will be performed with professional dancers, dedicated costumes, with light effects around the theme of the Winter Games. Several shows spread over the evening will feature acrobats, dancers and freestylers.” Open 10am-9:30pm. Free entry, Pass Vaccinal required.

March 11-20
The 102nd annual Foire de Chatou gathers nearly 500 antique and second-hand dealers at île des Impressionnistes, 10 minutes from Paris. Expect high quality goods from vintage jewellery to industrial furniture, mid-century lighting to 18^th century antiquities. Plus regional French foods, oysters and both a cocktail and a champagne bar! Entry €7 (free for under-15s); there’s a free shuttle bus from RER station Rueil-Malmaison. Open 10am-7pm.

March 27
Today is the 13th annual Carnaval des Femmes, or more specifically, the Carnaval des Femmes Fête des Reines des Blanchisseuses de la Mi-Carême (Women’s Carnival Celebration of the Queens of the Laundresses of Mid-Lent), a real “people’s parade” organized in the same fun spirit a the Carnaval de Paris on March 3rd, but with a call to come dressed up: “Women as Queens, and Men as Women…if they Dare!” The parade will gather at Place du Châtelet starting at 1pm, and the processions starts at 3pm for a grand circle through the Marais, and finishing back at Châtelet at 6pm. 

Through June 16th
To celebrate the centenary anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses by Sylvia Beach, owner of the original Shakespeare & Co Bookstore in Paris, an ensemble of international stars are recording the complete text to be released as a free podcast between February 2nd and Bloomsday on June 16th by Shakespeare & Co, listen here.