What’s On in Paris – October 2021

Note that the Pass Sanitaire is required in most (but not all) monuments, concerts, and other entertainment venues.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS IN FRANCE: Clocks turn back one hour the night of October 31st

October 1
Lost in Frenchlation is hosting a screening of the film “Serre Moi Fort” with English subtitles, followed by a Q&A with the director Mathieu Amalric. It takes place at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville (20 Rue du Temple, 4th) with a cocktail at 7pm, screening at 8pm. Tickets are €10, get them online here.

October 2
The Ways Beyond is hosting a vintage jewelry and jewelry-making insider tour this Saturday morning at the Village Suisse antique market near the Eiffel Tower. “Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry will be presented by a community of jewelry designers, antique jewelry experts and upcycling designers” There will also be jewelry from 58 Facettes (usually exclusively sold online). The visit will be followed by a moment of discussion over a drink with the exhibitors. It’s at 11am, costs €15, and although the visit will be in French, the organizers speak perfect English. Sign up online here: https://www.thewaysbeyond.fr/product/bijoux-vintages-creations-village-suisse-paris/

October 2
The Ullmann Kararocké at the Bus Palldium is back! Open from 9:30pm with an opening act Franz Ravel and the Kararocké starts at 11pm. Entry €10 at the door. DJ set afterwards.

October 2
The 20th all-night culture festival Nuit Blanche is back with 200 free events to be discovered in four routes all over the city. This year Olympics fever is back with a focus on sports in addition to the usual artistic events. Find the map and program online here.

September 27-October 2
Parisian couture designer Ana Quasoar is having a special sale to clear out her atelier: clothing and accessories from current and past collections, fabrics, lace, embroidery, and also special pieces from her own collection of vintage couture. The sale takes place at the art gallery, Lieu Idéal (31 rue Yves Toudic, 10th between République and the Canal St-Martin) from 11am-7pm.

Through October 2
Come check out the latest Exposition BAF BAF, or “Back and Forth, Britain and France”, a collective of British and French artists promoting cultural exchange and interaction. During the exposition they’ll be hosting bilingual art and language workshops every Saturday for all ages, including a “False Friends/Nos Faux Amis” language workshop by Patrick Simkins, and “The Sketchbook as Place for Exchange” with Franco-American artist Marcus McAllister for just €5/person. See the full schedule here and sign up to get your spot by sending an email (in English or French) to bafbafart@gmail.com. Exhibit open Wed-Sat 2-7pm at Le 6b, 6-10 quai de Seine, Saint-Denis.

Through October 2nd
The magical Candlelit Evenings at the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte are back! Open every Saturday from 2pm, candles lit at sunset, and fireworks show before the 11pm closure; reservations required. Due to Covid, the shuttle from the train station is no longer running (reserve a taxi or come by car, free parking). Read the Secrets of Paris article about it here.

Through October 3
Escape to a little island on the edge of Paris for the 101st edition of the Foire de Chatou antique market. Formerly known as the Foire Nationale à la Brocante et aux Jambons (Ham and Flea Market), this popular twice-annual market has a mix of over 800 stands selling antiques and bric-a-brac, with an entire section dedicated to regional French foods, particularly pork in all its varieties. The Ile de Chatou, just north of Paris, also known as the Impressionists Island, is accessible via RER A from Charles-des-Gaulle-Etoile station in Paris, then either walk five minutes or take the free shuttle. Open 10am-7pm, entry €7. 

Through October 3
“Wonderland” is a hybrid open-air event/festival in a disused section of the Petit Ceinture railway on the edge of Paris with food tents with guest chefs, skate ramp, boules court, basketball court, kids’ playground, open-air art installations, yoga sessions, beer garden, wine bar, and cinema nights. Entrance is at 103 Cours de Vincennes, 20th, metro Porte de Vincennes; open Wednesday-Friday 6-11pm, Saturday noon-midnight and Sunday noon-11pm. Entry free until 7pm then €2 (kids free with a parent).

October 6-10
Head up to Montmartre for the 88th annual Fête des Vendanges, the wine harvest festival (yes, there is an actual little vineyard in Montmartre, just behind the Musée Montmartre and across from the Lapin Agile Cabaret). This year’s theme is “Demain Arrive” (The Future is Here). “Over the course of five days, the eight districts of the 18th arrondissement will gather and look into the future through a rich program addressing themes such as green cities, science, intergenerationality, science fiction and utopia.” And of course there will be wine! Concerts, vineyard tours, food tasting stands, art exhibitions, and the closing night bal dansant on the 10th (free, pass sanitaire required, “futuristic” outfits encouraged). All events are free-of-charge unless otherwise stated.  Some events must be booked in advance or have special access conditions. Please have a look at the detailed program for further information.

October 8-10
One of the biggest flower shows of the season, Les Journées des Plantes de Chantilly is taking place at the Château de Chantilly, just 30 minutes north of Paris by RER/TER. Over 200 exhibitors in a stunning setting with pretty flowers and plants, what’s not to love? Buy your tickets in advance online to get the €16 entry fee (€18 at the door). Pass Sanitaire required for anyone 12 and over.

October 9-10
Inspired by the troubadours, Les Mystères du Vieux Paris is a theatre troupe offering fun and educational walks through Paris as they recount the city’s most captivating historic moments through original songs by the Coudées Franches and the captivating storytelling of the Parisian tour guide Guillaume Bertrand. They’re back this weekend with two tours: on Saturday at 6pm you can follow in the footsteps of the Hunchback, the Grand Veneur and his troubadours, and let yourself be “en-chanté” through the alleys of the Ile de la Cité for the Legendes de l’Ile de la Cité tour; on Sunday at 3pm their new show tells the story of the bloody civil uprising on 1871, the Paris Commune, in their tour “Sur les Traces des Communards”. Yes, only in French, but as it’s mostly song and acting as you stroll the streets of Paris, you can probably figure most of it out even if you’re not fluent. Tickets €25 for adults. Pass sanitaire not needed!

October 10
Lost in Frenchlation is hosting a premiere screening of the epic film “Eiffel” with English subtitles. At the Club de L’Étoile, 14 Rue Troyon, 17th, starting with an Eiffel Tower themed tour at 4pm, cinema bar opens at 6pm and screening at 7pm. Tickets are €10, get them online here.

October 14
Le Food Market is a monthly open-air food market in Belleville along the boulevard between metros Ménilmontant et Couronnes. Unlike most food markets, this one isn’t for purchasing ingredients to take home and cook up, but is a market of food stands, where none of the dishes are more than €10. There are seating areas to sit and enjoy your food or you can order to go. Dress warm! From 6-10:30pm.

October 17
Join the annual Grande Randonnée de la Seine for a 13km urban and cultural hike through the towns along the Seine River: Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, Choisy-le-Roi, Alfortville and Ivry-sur-Seine. This is free of charge (guide is French speaking), sign-up through #ExploreParis.

October 25-November 1
The Jour des Morts (aka Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, aka Toussaint in France) is officially November 1st, but there are events all over Paris in the week leading up to it, from celebratory altars and music concerts to parades and “catrinas” contests. See the list of official events in Paris here.

October 26-31
Photography fans should check out the Paris Photo Prize Exhibition this week at the Espace Beaurepaire (28 Rue Beaurepaire, 10th), featuring the PX3 winners and the State of the World 2020/2021 winners. Free entry, open daily 10am-6pm, vernissage the 26th from 7-10pm.

October 28– November 1
Stuff yourself with all kinds of chocolately goodies at the annual Salon du Chocolat, at the Paris-Expo – Porte de Versailles (metro line 12), 10am-7pm. Entrance €15 (advance reservations €14.20), €39 for families. You can get advance tickets online or ask at your favorite chocolate shop if they have any extra invitations. Avoid the weekend unless you’re a masochist!

October 29
Visit and heraldry workshop in an 18th-century hotel particulier, La Jussienne, through MyDomos. The historic mansion is decorated by its current owners in Louis XV style. They will give you a tour then show you how to create your own coat of arms using the 17th- and 18th-century methods. Refreshments provided. Price €59/person, six people max per visit, from 6-8pm in the heart of Paris.

October 30-November 7
The Jour des Morts will be celebrated again this year at the Association pour l’Estampe et l’Art Populaire (49bis, rue des Cascades, 20th), a print-making gallery and artist atelier in Belleville. Each year they create an offering for the Jour des Morts and artworks available by 20 artists each day from 3-8pm. For more links to similar events, check out the article “Mexico in Paris” or official events in Paris here.

November 3
We can all use a good laugh right now. Laughing Matters in Paris presents British stand-up comedian Mark Maier from 8:30pm at Chez Georges (11 rue des Cannettes, 6th), tickets €20. Book old school via email on http://anythingmatters.com, or call Karl Beer at 06 1213 0202. Get on their mailing list if you’re interested in English comedy in Paris.

November 6-14
The annual Salon Marjolaine, the largest organic fair in Paris, takes place this week at the Parc Floral (Bois de Vincennes) with 560 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 coat check, 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.

Through November 14
The Galerie Sakura (21 rue du Bourg Tibourg, 4th) is hosting an exhibition “Sneakers Generation” featuring 400 international artists who have created an original artwork using the legendary Air Jordan 1 Mid triple white as a canvas. Each will be sold for the same price of €450. Check them out online even if you’re not interested in buying (they’re going fast!), or visit the gallery, open Tues-Sat noon-8pm and Sunday 2-7pm.

Through December 18th
Throughout the fall, the art gallery/museum La Fab is showcasing Graffiti and the French designer agnès b.’s historical relationship with this movement since 1985. “The Graffiti movement will take over all the interior and exterior spaces, private and urban, of La Fab. The agnès b. collection, the Galerie du Jour, and the Place Jean-Michel Basquiat offer a fascinating retrospective of history and discovery.” Artists include Banksy, Blek Le Rat, Dennis Hopper, Jef Aérosol, Jérôme Mesnager, Shepard Fairey / Obey Giant, and Jordane Saget, among others. Open Tues-Sat 11am-7pm, entry €7. Le Fab. Place Jean-Michel Basquiat, 13th, M° Bibliothèque.

Most Tuesdays and Wednesdays
The American Library in Paris is hosting free “Evenings with an Author” every Tuesday and Wednesday night at 7:30pm Paris time (CET). This month’s guests include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen (June 2nd), food writer Alec Lobrano (June 9th), and The Hudson Review editor Paula Deitz (June 22nd). RSVP required (most are free, €10 donation recommended). See the full schedule here.