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What’s on in France: Top things to do in November

Music, film, art... plus a lot of wine. Here are some top dates for your calendar in November.

Published: 28 October 2016 13:03 CEST

What's on in France: Top things to do in November

Don't miss the chocolate fashion show in Lyon. Photo: Salon du chocolat

Chocolate Fair, Lyon, November 11th to 13th

Forget Cadbury’s chocolate as Lyon, the widely known capital of gastronomy, has some tasty treats for you to get your teeth stuck into. The sixth edition of the chocolate fair, held at the Cité Internationale, is offering culinary demonstrations, cooking workshops and of course the famous parade of chocolate dresses that will be taking centre stage. Think of this as Paris Fashion Week meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Photo: AFP

Le Salon de la Photo exhibition, Paris, November 10th to 14th

If you're a fan of the selfie stick then why not take a trip down to la Porte de Versailles for the chance to appreciate the creative works of modern day photographers. The Photographers’ Corner is not to be missed at Le Salon de la Photo exhibition.

Brest European Short Film Festival, Brest, Nov 8th to 13th

The 31st edition of the festival will be commending the creativity and dynamism of young filmmakers in Europe. Known as the second best short film festival in France, Brest unites professionals and film goers so they can find out more about the imaginative and artistic processes involved in the making of a film.

Festival of the Herring – Fête du Hareng Roi – Throughout November

Dressed up in traditional costumes, the people of Normandy meet up to celebrate their favourite fish – the herring. Every year, thousands of people join them to enjoy herring in all its delicious forms – pickled, grilled, or smoked and accompanied of course by lots of wine.

Different parts of the region celebrate the festival on different days, click here for a guide.

Beaujolais Nouveau Festival, November 19th

As the world’s best wine party (as thought by many beaujoholics) is fast approaching, will you be ready to uncork the fruity bottle of Beaujolais at the stroke of midnight? The festivities will be marked by fireworks, music and various parties to celebrate the region’s first wine of the season.

ST-ART: European Contemporary Art Fair, Strasbourg, November 25th to 28th

The leading contemporary art fair will host galleries that reflect the works of leading international artists in the field. From photography to sculptures and paintings, ST-ART is a unique artistic space that allows 26,000 visitors to enjoy the great talents of the contemporary art world.

Jazz sur La Ville Festival, Marseille, November 3rd to December 3rd

“Life is a lot like jazz. . . it’s best when you improvise,” said George Gershwin.

Get ready to feel jazzy as this year celebrates the tenth edition of the Jazz Festival in Marseille, welcoming a seemingly endless list gifted artists. The festival, offering 56 live concerts, stretches from Marseille to dozens of other locations such as Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. So if you live in the south east region of France you have no excuse.

Salon des vins, Paris, November 24th to 28th

At the foot of la Porte de Versailles, this will be a great opportunity for wine lovers to personally meet local sellers and to discover new wines as well as the history behind them. Just in case Paris is unreachable for you, the event is also taking place in Reims; November 11th to 14th and Lille; November 18th to 21st.

Photo: AFP

Armistice Day November 11th

On Armistice Day, France honours those who fell or were injured during World War I with commemorative services. In Paris, a military parade will take place, and a ceremony will be held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe.

Christmas Market Colmar – November 25th to December 30th

Though it may seem a bit early, the Christmas market in the picturesque town of Colmar in the Alsace region already kicks off in late-November. Wandering around the illuminated city, trying out Alsatian specialties, and sipping from a cup of mulled wine will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit.

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Eight corona-safe events not to miss in Germany in October 2020

One of the displays at the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival in 2019. Photo: DPA

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly disrupted Germany’s events calendar this year, with staple celebrations such as Oktoberfest being cancelled due to safety concerns.

But despite restrictions, organisers have adapted to the circumstances and put together corona-safe events that can be enjoyed by all (albeit at a safe distance).

Here are some of the most exciting events to look out for in October:

German Unity Day Exhibition: September 5th – October 4th

The commemorative exhibition is running over thirty days to allow social distancing to be maintained. Photo: DPA

The Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day) is one of the nine nationwide public holidays in Germany and takes place on October 3rd every year.

It commemorates the formal completion of the reunification process between the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) after decades of division.

It is normally celebrated with open air concerts and attractions in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, but due to coronavirus things will look slightly different this year.

A special anniversary celebration on October 3rd at Potsdam’s Metropolis will be attended by only 240 guests, six times fewer than originally planned.

The event, which includes performances from musicians and interviews, will be broadcast for people to watch on television.

There’s also no need to miss out on celebrating entirely – a special open air exhibition is running in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, until October 4th.

The exhibition has been extended to last thirty days to ensure that a safe distance can be maintained amongst visitors.

Berlin Leuchtet Illuminations: September 25th – October 4th

The light show at the Brandenburg Gate this year celebrates 30 years of German unity. Photo: DPA

It’s not too late to catch the tail end of Berlin’s spectacular illumination festival. As the darker evenings draw in, many of the city’s landmarks are being lit up with colourful projections, videos and laser shows.

The illuminated buildings are scattered all over the city, with some highlights including Gendarmenmarkt, the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column in Tiergarten.

It is asked that visitors maintain 1.5 metres distance and the wearing of face masks is recommended.

Halloween Horror Festival at Movie Park Germany: October 1st – November 8th

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Be warned: this event is most definitely not for the faint hearted! Head to Bottrop on North-Rhine Westphalia to test your wits in the horror mazes at Germany’s most popular Halloween Festival.

Various spooky attractions including gut-churning rides, live entertainment and haunted houses await those brave enough to visit, although most are only suited for those above the age of 16.

The park is open every Thursday to Sunday in October, as well as on November 1st and November 6th – 8th.

Advance booking is essential due to strict capacity limits, and no costumes are allowed – the only masks permitted this year are the mouth-nose coverings that prevent the spread of the virus!

European Month of Photography: October 1st – October 31st

The European Month of Photography has something to offer for everyone. Photo: DPA

This October sees Germany’s largest photography festival return to Berlin. The event has taken place every other year since 2004, and offers a wide range of exhibitions for photography enthusiasts to enjoy.

For the whole month of October, 100 galleries, photography schools, museums and other cultural institutions will offer the public a chance to see incredible work from 500 artists across Europe.

Exhibitions can be found all across the capital and also in the nearby city of Potsdam.

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival: August 28th – December 6th

The festival boasts impressive pumpkin displays and fun-filled activities. Photo: DPA

A trip to Ludwigsburg is an essential for all those in awe of autumn, and makes for a fun day out for the whole family.

This year’s theme is music, with various impressive pumpkin displays paying tribute to famous artists ranging from Elvis to the Rolling Stones.

The programme also boasts an array of other activities: try your hand at pumpkin carving, sample pumpkin flavoured specialties or visit the pumpkin Santa Claus tent to get in the festive mood!

German Mozart Festival Augsburg: October 9th – October 31st

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Classical music fans won’t want to miss this celebration of the two of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven and Mozart.

The German town of Augsburg, birthplace of Leopold Mozart (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father), is hosting various concerts to celebrate the life and work of these two classical titans.

Events range from lower-key chamber music recitals to large-scale renditions of their most impressive symphonies, and includes performances from renowned soloists and orchestras.

Games Week Berlin: October 28th – October 30th

The gaming conference may be online this year, but there is still lots on offer. Photo: DPA

This year’s Games Week won’t be held in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei as normal, but game lovers need not fear – an extensive online programme is available for everyone to enjoy.

The festival’s three strands – “Play Experience”, “Pro Experience” and “Art Experience” – offer something for everyone, from gaming enthusiasts to industry creatives.

Live ‘let’s plays’, multiplayer tournaments, interviews with gaming influencers and game development conferences are just some of the events available to those who purchase an online ticket.

Wine tasting along the Deutsche Weinstraße – Various dates in October

Despite cancellations, there are still plenty of chances to try some German wine. Photo: DPA

September and October marks grape harvesting season in Germany, meaning it is the perfect time to taste some of the best wines the country has to offer.

Sadly, many of the wine festivals that usually take place along the German Wine Route have been cancelled this year, but there are still ample opportunities that are too good to miss.

Take a weekend trip to the Bacchus Wine Festival in the town of Bad Dürkheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, where you’ll find live music, delicious food and plenty of wine.

Similar delights await visitors in the nearby Weisenheim am Sand, albeit at reduced capacity. The company BottleStops also offers group and private tours to visitors who want to get a taste of local wineries, a majority which are currently open.

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