Paris Festivals

For information on festivals, the Paris Tourist Office has a home page (www.paris-touristoffice.com) and a pricey info line (☎08 92 68 30 00). You can also get a listing of festivals before you leave home by writing the French Government Tourist Office. We list our favorite festivals below. This isn’t all of them—just the ones that promise to keep you fat, happy, or drunk (or all three). Be sure to check listings in Time Out and Pariscope (€0.40 at any newsstand) a week or more ahead of time for updates and details on all events.

Spring

Foire du Trône, Apr.-May (☎ 01 46 27 52 29; www.foiredutrone.com). Porte Dorée. On Reuilly Lawn, Bois de Vincennes, 12ème. A 1063-year-old fair complete with carnival rides (€2-5), barbe à papa ...more

Summer

Bastille Day (Fête Nationale), July 14. France’s independence day. Festivities begin the night before, with traditional street dances at the tip of Île St-Louis. The free Bals des Pompiers (Firemen’s ...more

Fall

Jazz à la Villette, early Sept. (☎ 01 40 03 75 75 or 01 44 84 44 84; www.villette.com). Porte de Pantin. At Parc de la Villette. A week-long celebration of jazz from big bands to new international ...more

Winter

Christmas (Noël), Dec. 24-25. At midnight on Christmas Eve, Notre Dame becomes what it only claims to be the rest of the year: the cathedral of the city of Paris. Midnight mass is celebrated with pomp ...more

More Cultural Essentials in Paris

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