October Events in Paris: Nuit Blanche, Fête des Vendanges, FIAC & More

Autumn comes to Paris in October, when the air gets crisp and golden leaves shine overhead. The season’s shorter days leave room for more nighttime fun, which makes this month a perfect host to the popular Nuit Blanche event, taking place on October 6. Starting at sundown the city hosts various cultural events, installations, exhibits, and concerts that last until dawn. In honor of the event, public transportation remains open all night, so don’t hesitate to check out events across the city.

October brings another favorite annual event: the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre. Over four days, this lively, wine-driven block party includes events, workshops, and general revelry all over the 18^th arrondissement. The jam-packed calendar culminates in a parade that winds through Montmartre and ends in a final fête that is fun for the whole family.

The 45^th edition of the Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain (FIAC) takes place this year from October 18-21. The event’s  home base is Paris’ Grand Palais, but exhibitions, performances, projections, and other events take place in museum spaces and galleries across the city.

Women expats will want to check out the second in a series of five coaching workshops for expats in France. Catering to ladies living abroad, the workshops focus on the expat experience and are led by a locally based life coach. The theme of the October 16 session will be Shaping Pathways.

Several expositions begin in Paris museums this month, including an exploration of Cubism with over 300 works from leaders of the movement such as Picasso, Braque, and Duchamp on display at the Centre Pompidou. Starting October 3, the Grand Palais hosts a retrospective of Spanish painter Joan Miró’s work. Photography enthusiasts will want to stay close to the Jeu de Paume, which will be featuring famous photographers Dorothea Lange, Ana Mendieta, and Alejandro Cesaro from October 16 to January 27.

Paris celebrates Halloween in its own way this year by kicking off the annual Salon du Chocolat on October 31. Over 200 exhibitors from around the globe gather at this event every year to share their products, host tastings, and give workshops for both professional and amateur chocoholics.

Related Links

• Learn the art of la bise – the French air kiss.
• Read about mommy baby travel to Paris.
• For more October events, head to the Paris Tourist Office.

Written by Emily Dilling for HiP Paris. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany, Umbria or Liguria? Check out Haven In.