February 21
Bearing up
The Fête de l’Ours is a celebration of the pagan Bear Festival, with a performance throughout the museum created by the artist Angélique de Chabot. €20. Reservation required.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris
February 23
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Making Of, directed by Cédric Kahn.
L’Entrepôt, Paris
Through March 5
Kiddie cinema
Tout-Petits Cinéma screens films for children aged 18 months to four years and holds interactive workshops for them.
Forum des Images, Paris
February 24-March 3
A barnyard in Paris
The Salon International de l’Agriculture brings the best of the country’s livestock and crops – and the products made from them – to Paris. Pictured: Oreillette, the pinup cow for this year’s salon, a proud example of the Normand breed.
Porte de Versailles, Paris
March 3
The Carnaval des Femmes brings back to life the historic Fête des Blanchisseuses, a costumed parade first organized by Paris’s laundresses. Starts (3pm) and ends at the Place du Châtelet after parading through the Marais.
Place du Châtelet, Paris
March 9-11
Specialty coffee festival
Paris’s bustling coffee scene is celebrated at the Paris Café Festival.
Carreau du Temple, Paris
March 14-17
Eclectic Music Fest
The Paris Music Festival presents an eclectic program of concerts in unusual venues, including Boris Vian’s apartment and the Cité de l’Architecture.
Various locations, Paris
March 24
Servers on the run
Normally, it’s hard to get a Parisian server to hurry, but not during the newly revived Course des Cafés (formerly the Course des Garçons de Café). This year, 200 servers will participate in the race. They must run 2 kilometers and cross the finish line carrying a tray holding a still-intact cup of coffee, a glass of water and a croissant. Pictured: The 1941 race passes by the Opéra de Paris.
Hôtel de Ville, Paris
March 20-24
Emerging artists
The Chorus Festival presents a wide-ranging list of up-and-coming performers in concert, including previous winners of its Prix Chorus.
La Seine Musicale, Paris
Through March 31
Half off your meal
One thousand restaurants in Paris and around France, some with Michelin stars, offer special meals at a 50 percent reduction for the Festival TheFork
Various locations, France
April 20
Free stuff exchange
Help save the environment by recycling stuff at the Giant Free Troc Party swap event. Online registration (required) opens on April 16 at noon.
Académie du Climat, Paris
Through June 2
Indoor/outdoor street art
The Colors festival invites street artists to decorate an abandoned house, this one in a Paris suburb. Reserve online.
37, ave. Roger Salengro, Champigny-sur-Marne
June 2-7
Literary lessons
This year’s weeklong Paris Writers Workshop will feature masterclasses and more led by Lan Samantha Chang (director of the Iowa Writers Workshop), Jennifer Lauck, Kevin Brockmeier, Diane Lake, Heather Hartley and Don George. Early-bird registration is now open.