Paris Events for February 2020

Exciting Paris events during February include final Winter Sales (look for the biggest bargains this month!), a trio of Chinese New Year parades, a lively roster of concerts and museum shows, and believe it or not, the first signs of spring toward the end of the month.

Valentine's Day means you'll see lovely displays in bakery windows, and special menus in the city's romantic bistros.  If you're visiting, don't miss the romantic dinners, shows, and cruises on this day.

With warmer temperature, longer days, and the first flowers appearing on early-blooming cherry trees, February is a wonderful time to explore Paris, visit museums, and enjoy hints of romance in the air.

Celebrate being in the "City of Love" by posing for a photo in front of the famous blue and white Wall of Love in Rictus Square in Montmartre where you'll see I Love You written 311 times and in 250 different languages.

UPDATE:  The blockbuster Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Louvre Museum closes on February 34, and the museum has announced it will stay open overnight on February 21, 22, and 23 - and free access will be offered from 9pm to 8:30am on these nights.  You must book in advance to get one of the 300,000 free admission tickets on the Louvre's website, starting at 12 noon on February 11:  https://www.louvre.fr/ (see exhibit details below)

Top photo: Le mur des je t'aime (the Wall of Love) in Rictus Square in Montmartre

Valentine's Day in Paris:  Celebrate Your Love in the City of Love

It's hard to imagine a more romantic city in the world than Paris - so what better destination with your love on Valentine's Day, especially if you might be planning to propose? 

First, save by finding a cheap flight so that you can splurge once you get there by staying at a 5-star Palace hotel. 

Tour the city in a classic vintage Citroën 2CV and see all the famous sites: the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine River, and the picturesque Montmartre neighborhood. 

In the afternoon, explore three of Paris's most charming neighborhoods on a fun and leisurely small bike tour as your guide takes you through fashionable Saint Germain des Prés, medieval Marais, and the lively Latin Quarter.

As night falls, head out to one of these romantic dinner destinations - and the perfect place to propose:

• Valentine's Day Seine River Cruise with 5-Course Gourmet Dinner & Live Music - Champagne, wine, and live music round out this wonderful experience for February 14.  Find out more
• Romantic Dinner Cruise with Champagne - Available every evening, this gourmet 3-course dinner cruise down the Seine lets you enjoy beautiful illuminated top Paris attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Louvre Museum.  Find out more
• Lido de Paris Valentine's Day Dinner & Show - Celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th at Paris's legendary Lido de Paris caberet while you savor a 4-course gourmet dinner, sip Champagne, and enjoy the Lido's fabulous "Paris Merveilles" show.  Find out more - or catch the same show with dinner and Champagne on another night

More Valentine's Day Celebrations in Paris:

February Concerts in Paris - 2020

More Paris classical concerts during February  

More Paris rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, &other concerts during February

Find Paris concerts for other months

Paris Exhibits - Must-See Shows during February 2020

Monet, Renoir, Chagall - Journeys Around the Mediterranean

@ Atelier des Lumières - February 28 through Dec 31, 2020 - Immersive video/digitized exhibition of Monet's, Renoir's, and Chagalls's masterpieces accompanied by original music.  Tickets must be purchased online on the L'Atelier website
Open:  7 days/week
Where:  38 Rue Saint Maur, 11th arrondissement
Metro: Saint-Maur

Leonardo da Vinci - Final Nights Free!

UPDATE:  The Louvre Museum has announced it will stay open overnight on February 21, 22, and 23 - and free access will be offered from 9pm to 8:30am on these nights.  You must book in advance to get one of the 300,000 free admission tickets on the Louvre's website, starting at 12 noon on February 11:  https://www.louvre.fr/

@ Musée du Louvre, Through February 24, 2020 - This blockbuster show marks the 500th anniversary of the painter's death and brings together 5 core works, includinging the Mona Lisa, plus many more of his paintings and drawings.  The show is free with the cost of regular admission to the Louvre, but you must reserve a date and time-slot ticket in advance online.  Book as far in advance as possible to get your preferred date/time.
Location:  Rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement
Closed:  Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, and December 25
Tickets:  17€ (purchased online); includes admission to permanent exhibits as well; free for under 26
Stay nearby:  Hotels near the Louvre
Nearest Metro:  Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre, Pyramides
More info:  https://www.louvre.fr

Interested in a Louvre Museum guided tour?  Find out how to choose one

Magic Paintings (Tableaux Magiques)

@ Picasso Museum, Through February 2020 - This special exhibit focuses on Picasso's paintings completed between 1926-1930, and explores his experimentation in the context of Surrealism, psychology, and his fascination with magic.
Admission:  Exhibit included with museum admission.  Get skip-the-line priority tickets online or with a Paris Museum Pass 
Location: 5 rue de Thorigny, 3rd arrondissement; closed Mondays
Metro: Saint-Sébastien-Froissart

The Great Naive Masters

@ Musée Maillol, September 11 - February 23, 2020 - Maillol Museum brings together over 100 works created between the two world wars by Henri Rousseau, Séraphine Louis, and lesser-known "primitive" artists to examine their subversive statements against the modernism of that period.  
Location:  61 rue de Grenelle, 7th arr
Tickets: 13.50€ (available online for timed entry)
Nearest Metro: Rue du Bac
More info:  www.museemaillol.com

Golden Age of English Painting

@ Grand Palais, through February 16, 2020 - English masterpieces from the 1760s to 1820 - spectacular paintings by Reynolds, Turner, Gainsborough, and more.
Closed on Tuesdays.  Tickets 14.50€ 
Location:  Grand Palais, Avenue Winston-Churchill, 8th arr 
Closed: Tuesdays
Nearest Metro: Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau
More info: https://www.grandpalais.fr

Our World is Burning

@ Palais de Tokyo, February 21-May 17 - Using fire as a sign of danger, this exhibition explores the connections among ecological catastrophes, wars, and explosive international relations in the early 21st century, and their impact on contemporary creation.  Tickets 12€; open from noon to midnight every day except Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, and December 25
Location:  13, Avenue du Président Wilson, 16 arr 
Nearest Metro: Iéna and Alma Marceau
More info:  https://palaisdetokyo.com

Turner:  Exposure

@ Musée Jacquemart-André, March 13-July 20, 2020 - Major retrospective of British landscape master Joseph Mallord William Turner with watercolors and oil paintings on loan from Tate Britain in London.  Tickets 14.50€ (includes admission to the permanent collections plus this exhibition)
Location:  158 Boulevard Haussmann, 8th arr. 
Nearest Metro : Saint Philippe du Roule

 

Magic Paintings (Tableaux Magiques)

@ Picasso Museum, Through February 2020 - This special exhibit focuses on Picasso's paintings completed between 1926-1930, and explores his experimentation in the context of Surrealism, psychology, and his fascination with magic.
Admission:  Exhibit included with museum admission.  Get skip-the-line priority tickets online or with a Paris Museum Pass 
Location: 5 rue de Thorigny, 3rd arrondissement; closed Mondays
Metro: Saint-Sébastien-Froissart

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Chinese New Year Parades in Paris - Dates & Locations 2020

Chinese New Year parades, festivities, and other events span about two weeks during February in Paris, home to Europe's largest Asian community.  Don't miss the chance to experience the Lion Dancers, colorful dragons, drums, firecrackers, food, and activities!

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, January 25 in 2020, with most celebrations taking place a week or two before or after this date.  The 2020 New Year marks the Year of the Rat.

Here are the 2020 parade dates and locations for the biggest Chinese New Year parades and other celebrations in Paris:

• 13th Arrondissement - Sunday, February 2, 1pm-5pm; parade kicks off at 2pm at 44 Porte d'Ivry (near Metro station), with other festivities including a lion dance.  Additional activities take place in the 13th between January 20 - February 2.  Find more details here
• Marais - The Chinese New Year Parade of the 3rd and 4th districts (ie, Marais) returns this year on Sunday, February 2, kicking off at Place de la République (find parade route here).  In addition, many free Chinese cultural activities from February 3-8 at the 3rd arrondissement's Town Hall (2 Rue Eugène Spuller).  For details:  3rd Arrondissement Town Hall website (look for updates about 2 weeks before the event)
• Belleville (10th, 11th, 19th, and 20th arrondissements) - Sunday, February 2, 10:30am kickoff at the Belleville Metro station (date/time to be confirmed)

Find out more about Paris Chinese New Year Parades including routes, other activities and things to do, and nearby places to stay

Future Chinese New Year dates:  February 12, 2021; February 1, 2022; January 22, 2023; February 10, 2024; January 29, 2025

Mardi Gras (Carnaval) in Paris:  La Promenade du Boeuf Gras  2020

Paris celebrates Mardi Gras with a huge parade based on ancient cultural traditions called La Promenade du Boeuf Gras (literally, March of the Fat Beef Cow) featuring masks and processions.  Led by Pimprenelle, a lovely French beef Limousin cow wearing a bright red dress, and her escort Pat the Clown, about 5,000 flamboyantly costumed paraders fill the streets of Paris with music and dancing, attracting massive crowds of spectators. 

The Paris Mardi Gras parade takes place in the 20th arrondissement, always on the Sunday before the Tuesday when Mardi Gras occurs.  The theme for this year is "One for all, and all for sport!"  The event is free and free-form.  Want to march?  Just join in.  Want to watch?  That's fine too.

Carnaval de Paris (Mardi Gras) Parade Route:  Starts at Place Gambetta and goes down Avenue Gambetta past Père Lachaise Cemetery, turns right at Boulevard Ménilmontant and continues along Boulevard de Belleville, turns left on to Rue du Faubourg du Temple and ends at Place de la République.  Like every parade in Paris, unanticipated route changes can occur - so check on the Carnaval website for any last-minute updates.

When:  February 23, 2020 (always scheduled for the Sunday before Mardi Gras, which is always on a Tuesday)
Starts:  1pm
Ends:   5pm
Future dates:   February 14, 2021; February 27, 2022; February 19, 2023; February 11, 2024

Car-Free Sundays in Paris 2020

Can you imagine Paris without cars or any of their accompanying pollution and noise? 

You can experience this on Sunday, February 2 - as well as the first Sunday of every month throughout many Paris neighborhoods.  Some extend this to include every Sunday - and a few areas go car-free on Saturdays as well.

So get ready to walk or ride your bike down the middle of the busiest Paris streets and avenues, and see the city in a new way! 

You can find a list of these areas on the City of Paris's website.

Although most vehicles (including electric) are banned, you'll see a few exceptions: emergency and police vehicles operate as usual, and taxis, city buses, and regular tourist buses (Open Tour and Big Bus lines) also run, but at a slower-than-normal speed.  

Paris has measured a significant drop in pollution and noise on car-free days.   So grab your skate board, bike, or favorite walking shoes, and spend the day outdoors enjoying fresh air and tranquility.

Paris Grand Slam: Judo

The Paris Grand Slam features the greatest athletes from the world of judo for two days at the Accorhotels Arena in the 12th arrondissement.  Join 24,000+ other spectators at this highly-rated international tournament as professional judokas put on a spectacular show on the tatami mats.

Dates:  February 8 and 9
Location:   Accorhotels Arena, 8 Boulevard de Bercy, 12th arr; Metro: Bercy
Get Your Paris Grand Slam Tickets  
Hotels near Accorhotels Arena:
- Mercure Paris Bercy Bibliothèque - 4-star hotel with air conditioning and affordable rates across from a metro station - 5 minute walk to the arena.  Request a room with a terrace overlooking the Seine River
- Kyriad Hotel Paris Bercy Village - 3-star modern hotel with cheerful contemporary decor - 5 minute walk to the arena and Line 14 metro station.  

Winter Sales on Designer Fashions - Final Days

The famous Paris winter sales end on February 4.  

By early February, Soldes signs in store windows all over the city will be announcing final reductions - as high as 70-80%, and occasionally even more.  Savvy shoppers know that these last few days are when you'll find the biggest bargains.  

Find out more about Paris Winter Sales 2020

Paris Tours for Fashionistas

More Top Paris Things to Do & See in February