Light Cycles
A Scintillating Night Walk
“Light Cycles,” an often-breathtaking immersive night walk in the park, uses sound and light to evoke the beauty of the living world and takes full advantage of the varied features of La Villette, Paris’s largest park, designed by architect Bernard … Read More
Au Moulin à Vent Restaurant
A Living Relic
Au Moulin à Vent is a relic of the past, the kind of bistro adored by visitors and Parisians alike. Unlike À la Renaissance, another old-fashioned bistro recently reviewed here, the setting has not been refreshed but left in its … Read More
19 Saint Roch Restaurant
Waiting for the Magic
Expectations were high for our dinner at 19 Saint Roch. The restaurant had received great reviews, and the first few times I tried to reserve a table, it was all booked up. Its youthful (30-year-old) chef, Pierre Touitou, formerly of … Read More
Les Gens de Paris, 1926-1936
Who Are These People?
The exhibition “Les Gens de Paris, 1926-1936” at the Musée Carnavalet is not just a snapshot of the people of Paris in the years following World War I and during the Depression, it is a full-scale portrait. The show presents … Read More
À La Renaissance Restaurant
Back to the Future Bistro
The restaurant À La Renaissance has undergone a successful rebirth, from charmingly old-fashioned hundred-year-old neighborhood bistro to charmingly old-fashioned but spiffed-up, trendy café/bistro full of mostly young people enjoying simple, excellent dishes prepared by chef Min Wou Choi, formerly of … Read More
Bridget Riley: Starting Point
Mentor and Mentee
If you arrive at the Musée d’Orsay to see the John Singer Sargent exhibition and find the line outside to be blocks long and the show jammed with art lovers, head instead for a sweet little show on the fifth … Read More
Les Mondes de Colette
Outrageous, Immoral and Multitalented
Having visited the writer Colette’s childhood home in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye on a sun-kissed spring day last year with two good friends, I suppose it was payback time when I arrived alone at the exhibition “Les Mondes de Colette” at the Bibliothèque … Read More
Pétrelle Restaurant
Romantic Gourmet Hideaway
If you want to treat yourself or a friend to a special meal but can’t afford to drop €300 or more per person at a Michelin-starred restaurant, I have the perfect place for you: Pétrelle, a venerable restaurant in the … Read More
Photo of the Month
Autumn on the Seine. Photo: Ron Fox
What's Happening in Paris This Month
For full details about an event, click on the title to visit the official Web site (in English when available).
December 4
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents La Petite Dernière.
L’Entrepôt, Paris
December 4-7
Independent winemakers’ fair
French winemakers bring their vintages to Paris for the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants.
Porte de Versailles, Paris
December 7
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents L’Homme Qui Rétrécit.
Club de L’Étoile, Paris
December 5-7
Voices raised in song
For the festival À C(h)œur Voix, eight top amateurs choirs will present their Christmas program. The concerts are free, with the exception of the final one on Dec. 7, which should be reserved online.
Various locations, Paris & Nogent-sur-Marne
December 5-8
Gourmet food fair
Just in time for Christmas, the Salon Saveurs des Plaisirs Gourmands brings together 300 gourmet food producers from the regions of France.
Espace Champerret, Paris
Through December 9
International jazz festival
Jazzycolors presents musicians from around the world in national culture centers located in Paris.
Various locations, Paris
December 14
Santa Dash
Thousands of people in Santa costumes take to the streets of Issy-les-Moulineaux for the Corrida de Noël, a 10K run in support of several charities.
Issy-les-Moulineaux, Île-de-France
December 6-17
Culture in the 12th arrondissement
Festival 12×12 showcases the best sculpture, photography, dance, music and theater of the 12th arrondissement.
Various locations, Paris
Now through December 20
Contemporary arts festival
The Festival d’Automne presents leading international talents in art, dance, film, theater and more.
Various venues, Paris & Île de France
November 28-December 24
African music and film
The Africolor cultural festival puts African music in the spotlight.
Various venues, Paris suburbs
Throughout December
Festive activities
Magical châteaux, ice skating and family fun: a comprehensive list of Paris’s Christmas events.
Various locations, Paris
November 16-early January
The lights go on
The holiday decorations on the Champs-Élysées will light up on Nov. 16 at 6:30pm, an event closed to traffic and open to the public.
Champs-Élysées, Paris
December 26-January 4
Holiday wonderland
The Festival du Merveilleux returns with a fabulous celebration of antique fairground rides in this incredible museum. Bo
Musée des Arts Forains, Paris
Mid-November-early January
Holiday markets
Mulled wine and gifts galore: a full list of holiday markets in Paris.
Various locations, Paris
November 14, 2025-January 11, 2026
Spectacular night lights
Lumières en Seine is an interactive light show in the park.
Domaine National de Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud
November 18, 2025-January 11, 2026
Emerging artists
The Île-de-France department presents “FoRTE,” an exhibition of creative projects by emerging artists who received regional funding.
Frac. Romainville
November 4, 2025-January 31, 2026
Dance festival
The Fondation EDFs Dans(e) la Lumière festival presents dance performances and art exhibitions inspired by light.
Fondation EDF, Paris & Île de France
October 31, 2025-March 8, 2026
Light in the darkness
Light Cycles immerses visitors in magical light shows amid the shadows of the park.