Fall 2018: 57 things to do in Paris

Don’t be nostalgic for the much-needed getaways and lazy days of summer.  The capital is overflowing with events sure to make the coming fall months cultural, festive, sporty, and gourmet.  Simply follow the guide LeFigaro has laid out for you and choose from among 57 possible activities you can take part in this fall season:

1. Let yourself believe in unicorns again at the Musée de Cluny’s Magiques Licornes exhibit.  Here you will see how this mythical creature has inspired artists and artisans through the ages. (Paris 5, running until February 25th). 

2. Be inspired to pamper your house plants after experiencing Jardins ouverts.  This event brings cultural and horticultural events together in gardens all over Ile-de-France the weekend of September 29th and 30th.

3. Celebrate the grand reopening of la Scala and be seduced by the inaugural shows of Yoann Bourgeois and Thomas Jolly. (Paris 10, starting September 11).

4. Photograph the works of 15 female graffiti artists on le Parvis de la Défense (92) as part of Undergound Effect (September 18th to 23rd) and watch the artists work live from September 18th to 20th!

5. Treat yourself to the beautiful and delicious sweets of pastry chef Philippe Conticini, in his new boutique “Cakes of Emotion” (37, rue de Varenne, 75007)

6. Take part in the Parc Zoologique de Paris’ Rendez-Vous Sauvage: Vautours, a weekend of activities and presentations dedicated to demystifying the important, but often misunderstood, role vultures play in our ecosystem. (Bois de Vincennes, September 22nd and 23rd).

7. Participate in this year’s Festival d’Automne, a multidisciplinary contemporary arts festival held every year in Paris.  Enjoy selections of dance, music, theater, cinema and visual arts all over the city. (from September 10th to December 31st).

8. Sculpt your body through Studio Quee’s latest work out class, Yog’ndance, a combination of vinyasa yoga, barre class, and modern dance.  (2nd arrondissment, Thursdays from 8pm to 9pm).

9. Spend some time at La Cité Fertile in Pantin for some neighborly, eco-friendly fun.  Rent a book from the library, play pétanque, or develop sustainable habits during informative demonstrations and presentations. (until October 14th).

10. Stroll along le Bassin de La Villette (19th) during Culture au Quai, an event merging classic Parisian cultural activities with trendy concerts, food trucks, workshops, and meet and greets. (September 22nd and 23rd).

11. Delight in the shops and restaurants of Beaupassage, a new food court showcasing the best of French gastronomy (Yannick Alléno, Anne-Sophie Pic, Thierry Marx, Pierre Hermé) between boulevard Raspail, rue du Bac, and rue de Grenelle (7th). 

12. (Re)discover Alphonse Mucha, Czech artist devoted to his country and endowed with a strong political awareness that is reflected in his work. From September 12th to January 27th at the Musée du Luxembourg in the 6th.

13. Take a walk through the collections at the Musée de la Musique in Paris’ 19th arrondissement with the musicians themselves!  Look for Gan Guo and his erhu, a Chinese fiddle, on September 30 at 2 PM.

14. Reimagine the Chicago of the 1920s and swing on All That Jazz while attending the musical Chicago (with English subtitles!) at the Théâtre Mogador (Paris 9, from September 26th).

15. Channel your inner Hollywood star and shop like you’re in Tinseltown.  Le Bon Marché has chosen 200 American brands, all hailing from L.A., to inaugurate their fall fashion season.  (Paris 7, from September 1st to October 21st).

16. Enjoy the superb view of the Eiffel Tower from the new chic and trendy restaurant at the Cité de l’Architecture, Girafe.  The same team behind Monsieur Bleu and Loulou, Girafe proposes primarily sea food in an ambience reminiscent of the 30s. (16th)

17. Achieve your fall fitness goals with the trainers at the new Hub République (10th), equipped with 6 separate studios (general fitness, bootcamp, boxing, cycling, rowing, yoga) spread over 3 levels (Open every day).

18. Embrace the history of the sciences with comedian Benoit Solès who wrote and acts in  his play, La Machine de Turing, dedicated to the touching story of mathematician Alan Turing. (8th, starts October 7th)

19. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Forum des Images (1st) by attending roundtables and Q&A sessions presented by its 30 directors, along with Adèle Haenel and Vincent Lacoste (from September 17th to October 7th).

20. Try a pita, falafel, ratatouille, or kebab in Israeli star Eyal Shani’s second and latest restaurant to date, Miznon Canal St. Martin (Paris 10).

21. Celebrate the anniversary of Paris’ Techno parade: 20 years of electronic music, colorful floats, and parties in the streets (September 22nd)

22. Embark on a gourmet cruise by Alain Ducasse on his new electric boat, Ducasse sur Seine, moored at Port Debilly (16th).

23. Identify future Olympic champions, all competing at the Internationaux de France de gymnastique, the final event of the la Coupe du Monde Challenge FIG at AccorHotels Arena (Paris 12, September 29th and 30th).

24. Discover Double Dragon, the new and delightful restaurant by the Levha sisters on rue Saint-Maur, where they pay homage to their Asian roots with spicy and creative cuisine.  (Paris 11)

25. Share cocktails and delicious dishes of the South-West at Jóia, the latest resto by Hélène Darroze. (36, rue des Jeûneurs, 75002).

26. Dance to the best of trance, techno, and bass music during the Dream Nation festival, welcoming more than 50 artists at three separate venues (Les Docks, la Plage du Glazart et le Petit Bain). (Paris 13 and 19, from September 21 to 23).

27. Get your hands on one of the 300 prints by contemporary artists (Françoise Pétrovitch, Damien Deroubaix) and comic book artists (Art Spiegelman, Philippe Druillet) sold at auction at Artcurial on September 21st. (Paris 8)

28. Make your way through the sacred halls of the Louvre in the Davinci Code-inspired treasure hunt, following the clues to open the cryptex. The Da Vinci Code, Between Fiction and Fact. 1 hr 30 mins – Tour days everyday except Tuesday.

29. Familiarize yourself with the idea of sustainable eating at the MIAM! Festival.  Over the course of four thematic weekends, learn all about health through eating, foods of the future, and new food distribution methods. (Foundation GoodPlanet, within the Bois de Boulogne)

30. Study photographs of some of the greatest muses in cinema in the 1930s and 40s (Arletty, Brigitte Helm, Gaby Morlay), all taken by the photographers and/or filmmakers who idolized them.  (Fondation Muses: Portrat d’Actrices (1930-1939), Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Until October 12th) 

31. Dance to Japanese electro at the Electro Japonismesparty, organized by the Pompidou (IVe) as part of the massive Japonsismes 2018 initiative, honoring 160 years of diplomatic relations between France and Japan. (September 28, entry €14 to €18)

32. Discover independent publishers and their works across all genres (young adult, poetry, human sciences, travel literature) by wandering through the Raccord(s) festival at the Forum de la Bellevilloise (Paris 20, September 23rd from 11 AM to 7 PM)

33. Spend your Sunday exploring any of the 100 art galleries, from Belleville to Saint-Germain, opening their doors during Un Dimanche à la Galerie #4.  Galleries will be open for your perusal from noon to 6 PM on Sunday, September 23rd.

34. Step into the shoes of James Bond or Marie-Antoinette and visit the film locations of these mythical movies at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (Vaux-le-Vicomte Fait Son Cinéma. from September 22nd to November 4th).

35. Head to the AMERICA 2018 festival, a four-day celebration highlighting the literature of about thirty Canadian authors, the largest delegation of authors from this country to come to France in recent years. The festival will also welcome writers from Mexico, Cuba, Haiti and the United States.

36. Work on your inner-self and cultivate a serene sense of well-being at the Salon Zen, from September 27th to October 1st.  This expo brings together vendors and professionals dedicated to organic and homeopathic care of all types. (Espace Champerret, Paris 17)

37. Enjoy Food Temple, a gourmet gathering at the Carreau du Temple (Paris 3) from September 21st to 23rd.  This year, the event is entrusted to François-Régis Gaudry and his friends, with banquets, a market, workshops, and food trucks.

38. Celebrate the delights of the Mediterranean for two days at the Mairie du 9ème, with activities (a poutargue contest, dancing, tastings, culinary workshops) organized by the most excellent RAP specialty-shop (Le Bal Gourmand, September 21st from 10 AM to 10 PM, and 22nd, from 10 AM to 5 PM) 

39. Check out the many activities organized as part of the 8th Annual Fête de la Gastronomie, now named Goût de France, from September 21st to 23rd.  This free event celebrates French gastronomy and brings together the biggest names in the French gastronomy world. 

40. Marvel at the latest show by Bartabas, celebrated French horse trainer, filmmaker, and impresario. This spectacle, made in collaboration with the Versailles Equestrian Academy and inspired by Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Symphony of Psalms, will run from September 21st to 26th at la Seine Musicale. 

41. Say your goodbyes to the Cirque Plume, celebrated French circus founded in 1984.  Their final show, La Dernière Saison, takes place in the forests of Jura, making for a spectacle that is sure to be more acrobatic and poetic than ever. (La Villette, 19th, from September 26th to December 30th). 

42. Test the trendiest new mode of public transportation, the electric scooter!  Download the Lime application on the App Store or Google Play to find one near you.

43. Walk through Aquacity, a contemporary art exhibition by Aki Kuroda inspired by the marine life found within the Aquarium de Paris and made expressly for the venue, as part of “Japonismes 2018”. (from September 13th to November 11th at l’Aquarium de Paris, Paris 16).

44. Participate in i-LiveStyle, a new event dedicated to French-speaking social media “influencers” in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, sports, food, and music, with meetings, shows, presentations, and DJ sets at Faust. (7th, 29th and 30th of September).

45. Hurry to a restaurant participating in Tous au Restaurant, to enjoy the cuisine of some of Paris’ nicest restaurants at half price! (From October 1st to 14th) 

46. Participate in the retrospective devoted to Ingmar Bergman at the Cinémathèque (12th).  Attend meetings and conferences, and enjoy viewings of the great filmmaker’s works. (from September 19th to November 11th).

47. Do some antiquing at La Foire du Chatou (92), which will be celebrating its 97th birthday this year and will once again gather passionate merchants and collectors alike. (September 28th to October 7th).

48. Head to the newly-renovated UGC Gobelins, where you can take advantage of a re-opening offer of €6/ticket until September 25th. 

49. Paris Fashion Week is September 24th to October 2nd.  Why not try to get a seat at one of the many fashion shows taking place during the week for fall wardrobe inspiration?

50. Stroll through Les Extatiques, an interactive contemporary art exhibition uniting the works of nine artists on le Parvis de la La Défense. (ends October 21st)

51. Have a lazy day along the canal d’Ourcq at Jardin 21, a seasonal greenspace open until September 30th.  Boasting a small vegetable garden and a bar, the space also offers delicious organic pizzas, and hosts concerts and workshops.

52. Enjoy an Indian summer moment at l’Estival in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (78), a Francophone music festival welcoming, among other artists this year, Aracadian, Barcella, et Laurent Voulzy (from September 21st to October 6th).

53. Relax with a good rum and some Creole specialties at Bô, the new Caribbean dining bar that 21 year-old Michelin-starred chef, Julia Sedefdjian, inaugurated in early September.  Her first restaurant, Baieta, is just a few steps away for those interested in further exploring Sedefdjian’s culinary talents. (8, rue de Poissy, Paris 5) .

54. Let the soothing sounds of Carmen, La Traviata, and other lesser-known opera arias calm you, for free, in the open air of Bercy Village (Paris 12, Festival Opéra côté Cour, every Sunday from September 9th to 30th, 40-minute concerts).

55. Visit le parc du Vexin (95450 Théméricourt) on September 30th and le parc du Haute-Vallée de Chevreuse (78460 Chevreuse) on October 7th to enjoy an on-the-spot picnic.  Local producers will be setting up their stalls within these two parks on those two days, selling everything you’ll need for an impromptu afternoon meal.

56. Escape to Val d’Oise (95) to attend Festival de Royaumont.  The Abbaye de Royaumont will put on some forty concerts and performances, bringing together music and dance, all in the magical environment of this ancient Cistercian abbey. (until October 7th). 

57. Discover FTG (Paris 2), the latest version of the classic gourmet fast-food restaurant Frenchie To Go, designed by Greg Marchand and decorated by Emilie Bonaventure (early September).