Month by Month - Paris - page 65

October
October heralds an autumnal kaleidoscope in the city's parks and gardens,
along with bright, crisp days, cool, clear nights and excellent cultural offer-
ings. Daylight saving ends on the last Sunday morning of the month.
Nuit Blanche
From sundown until sunrise on the first Saturday and Sunday of October, museums and re-
creational facilities including swimming pools stay open, along with bars and clubs, for one
'White Night' (ie 'All Nighter').
Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre
The grape harvest from the Clos Montmartre in early October is followed by five days of
festivities including a parade ( www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com ) .
Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain
Scores of galleries are represented at the contemporary-art fair known as FIAC
( www.fiac.com ) , held over four days in late October at venues including the Grand Palais.
November
Dark, chilly days and long, cold nights see Parisians take refuge indoors: the
opera and ballet seasons are going strong and there are plenty of cosy bis-
tros and bars.
Africolor
From mid-November to late December, this six-week-long African-music festival
( www.africolor.com ) is primarily held in surrounding suburbs, such as St-Denis, St-Ouen
and Montreuil.
Beaujolais Nouveau
At midnight on the third Thursday (ie Wednesday night) in November - as soon as French
law permits - the opening of the first bottles of cherry-bright, six-week-old Beaujolais
Nouveau is celebrated in Paris wine bars, with more celebrations on the Thursday itself.