Sources: Paris Convention and Visitors Office, Paris Mayor's Office
The below calendar applies to May 2009.
Festivals and Seasonal Events
- May 16th: Museum Night-- As part of the global Museum Night event, Paris museums will open their doors free of charge to visitors until 1 am. Special events and illuminations await in many of Paris' major museums.
- May 24th-June 7th: -- Tennis fans should not miss one of France's most exciting and important tournaments. Tennis greats like Steffi Graf made their debuts at Roland Garros, and the French Open continues to host some of the world's unforgettable matches. Procuring tickets, however, can be quite a feat, so try to snag much-coveted spots at the matches several months ahead.
- Through May: Foire du Trone (Annual Fair)
Parents and kids can look forward to the annual Paris fair (Foire du Trône), which runs through the end of the month and delivers all the traditional fun of a county fair, with Ferris wheels, roller coasters, and cotton candy included.
- May 10-25: Saint-Germain-des-Prés Jazz Festival
The city's most famous annual jazz festival will take the St. Germain neighborhood by storm for the 9th year running this month. Enthusiasts should reserve a day or two for this popular event.
Metro: St. Germain des Prés
Arts and Exhibits
- Vassily Kandinsky
A towering, iconoclastic figure in 20th century art, Vassily Kandinsky is being celebrated at the Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Georges Pompidou. The retrospective brings under a single roof around one hundred of the artist's most important works.
Through August 10th, 2009.
Location: Centre Georges Pompidou
- Montmartre at the Turn of the Century
An exhibit featuring the paintings of Suzanne Valadon and her son Maurice Utrillo pays tribute to the romance and art-drenched Montmartre neighborhood at the beginning of the 20th century.
Through September 15, 2009
Location: Pinacothèque de Paris
28, place de la Madeleine
RER: Madeleine
- Le Grand Monde d'Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol's Big World)
The Grand Palais is currently running an ambitious exhibit on the darling of the pop art movement, Andy Warhol. 250 of Warhol's paintings and photographs are on display here, sure to regale admirers-- but do reserve ahead.
Through July 13th, 2009
Location: Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais
3, avenue du Général-Eisenhower, 8th arrondissement
Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Line 1)
