What to do in Paris in October

We didn’t have much of a summer in Paris this year, and now autumn is setting in. Luckily, fall is such a pretty time in Paris, with the leaves turning golden and the return of cool-weather fashion. October is a big month for the city, with annual events such as Nuit Blanche, Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, FIAC, and more. Here are some of our must-dos:

Nuit Blanche – October 2

For this year’s big event, there are three parcours: parcours nord (north), parcours est (east), and parcours ouest (west). There are also several urban balades around Paris, a program for families, and many restaurants and bars participating in the night. 

La Clairière: Closing Party – October 2

The open-air nightclub in the Bois de Boulogne, La Clairière, are closing their three-month summer season with a bang. The night will be full of surprises, which will be revealed in the coming weeks. Note that getting home can be tricky once public transport stops.

Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre – October 6-10

After last year’s online edition, the Fête des Vendanges returns for an in-person event this year. The Parcours de Goût is my favorite part of the festival, the big food and wine market in the cobblestone streets surrounding Sacré-Cœur, but there’s plenty more on the program.

Marché Vintage X Ground Control – October 10

The Gros Marché will be at Ground Control with a market of thrift shops, second-hand good dealers, designers, and illustrators. The objective of the Gros Marché is to promote new ways of consumption, those that are ethical and eco-responsible.

The Paris Marathon – October 17

After being postponed in April due to COVID-19, the Paris Marathon is set to take off this month. 65,000 runners will start the race at the Arc de Triomphe before running down the Champs-Élysées and past other Paris sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. 

ASIA NOW Paris Asian Art Fair – October 21

ASIA NOW, the first Parisian art fair showcasing the diversity of Asia’s contemporary art scene, celebrates its 7^th edition this year. The fair is a platform for dialogue and interaction dedicated to contemporary artistic creation. In addition to the 32 exhibitors at 9 Avenue Hoche in the 8ème, there are special projects and off-site projects on view at the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques – Guimet.

FIAC – October 21-24

This year’s FIAC will take place at the new Grand Palais Ephémère. In addition, they have their Hors les Murs (Outside the Walls) program as usual, as well as a series of performances, the Parades for FIAC, and a cycle of conferences, the Conversation Room. Note that tickets cannot be bought on-site this year; you can only buy them online. 

Halloween – October 18-31

Believe it or not, you can celebrate Halloween in Paris! The Grand Rex movie theater will be showing horror films such as Halloween Kills on October 18, and Antlers and The Adams Family 2 from October 27. Then there’s the Manoir Halloween Festival from October 22-31, with 4000m² of haunted houses, scream zones, animations, and food at La Villette.

Related Links

• You can also check out Paris’ flea markets.
• Practice your French on TikTok.
• Discover where to find fall foliage over at SoloSophie.

Written by Ali Postma for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person (when possible)? Check out new marketplace shop and experiences.