February Event Highlights of things to do in Paris in February
- Winter sales (Les Soldes): ending Feb. 4 ***amazing deals on clothes!
- La Chandeleur (a.k.a. “Pancake Day”), when everyone in France eats crepes!
- Chinese New Year- starts on February 17 this year and features New Year parades, festivities, and other events during a two week period in several neighborhoods across Paris, home to Europe’s largest Asian community.
- Lantern Festival – Over 2,000 lanterns and other glowing creations will light up Jardin d’Acclimatation (next to Fondation Louis Vuitton)
- Book a Paris portrait session with your favorite Paris Photographer 🙂
Winter Sales! Look for signs in store windows that say “Les Soldes!” all over the city, usually showing the amount of reduction – often 30-40% at the beginning, and soaring as high as 70-80% toward the end. These annual sales, regulated by the city, are the only times of the year stores are allowed to sell items at a loss, so deals can be found everywhere!
La Chandeleur Day- , it takes place on February 2 and is the day in France when everyone eats crêpes. (In English, it’s called “Candlemas” – or just “pancake day.”) The date is based on a rather obscure Roman Catholic holiday that celebrated the presentation of Baby Jesus at a temple 40 days after Christmas, which is the 2nd of February. Our personal recommendation for the best crepe restaurant in Paris is La Crêperie de Josselin, not to be confused with Crêperie le Petit Josselin just down the street. If there’s a long line, don’t fret. They move people in and out faster than any other restaurant in Paris. This can be a snack or a full meal with their savory crepes!
Chinese New Year – starts on February 17. Don’t miss the chance to experience the big parades with Lion Dancers, colorful dragons, drums, firecrackers, food, and activities in celebration of the Year of the Horse. Here are dates and locations of the biggest New Year parades and other celebrations taking place in Paris: (all dates to be confirmed)
Champs Elysees Chinese New Year Parade – Sunday, February 15, 3pm – 4pm – Participants wearing Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese clothing) with flags and a few dragons march a 3-block stretch of the famous avenue on Car-Free Sunday (always the first Sunday of the month) when it becomes pedestrianized for the day.
Faubourg Saint-Honoré (where it intersects Rue Royal) – Wednesday, February 18, 12:30 – 2:30pm – Festive red lanterns and a colorful parade along Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré with about 30 lion dancers, dragon dancers, and drummers.
13th Arrondissement Spring Festival & Parade – Sunday, February 15, 12 noon, and continues for several hours. The largest Chinese New Year Parade in Paris with lion and dragon dances, and many marchers and even more watchers. The 13th district reflects numerous Asian cultures: Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Tibetan, Mongolian.
Lantern Festival – this year’s Lantern Festival transforms this popular garden and amusement park into an evening fantasy land filled with giant illuminations. This year’s festival celebrates Japan and takes you through three experiences: the Empire of Traditions with giant Torii gates, temples, traditional clothing, samurai, and silk umbrellas; a Pop-Modern Odyssey to Tokyo with kawaii creatures, arcade games, and manga; and finally, the Garden of Dreams, a peaceful oasis with cherry blossoms, koi (carp), and Mount Fuji.This family-friendly event takes place through March 8 from 6pm-9:30pm on Wednesdays through Sundays, excluding regular holidays, plus additional days on school holidays. Find more information and a link to get the special tickets (not the regular entrance tickets)
The Japanese Garden area provides some of the best rides in the park, including the newest and best roller coaster.
The Japanese gardens in the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris also have electric boats that kids can drive!
Ideas for Lovers in Paris during Valentines Day! –
- Visit a flower shop and have an arrangement made. The way it works here… choose your main flowers and filler and watch the florist arrange it in front of you. They will have some pre-made arrangements, but choosing your own and having the florist make it on the spot is the Parisian way 🙂
- Visit all the chocolate shops you can rather than opting for just a gift box!
- Make it a little risque and take in a burlesque show at Moulin Rouge or Crazy Horse Cabaret!
- Dinner cruise on the Seine with Bateaux Mouches or Bateaux Parisians
- Enjoy a candle light concert
- Plan a marriage proposal! Do you know anyone looking to pop the question in Paris? Check out our new sister studio, the Paris Proposal Photographer!
We absolutely love the show at Crazy Horse and highly recommend booking the dinner & show with champagne tickets! Last month our BFF visited us and we had a wonderful dinner and show experience!
Many thanks and credit to the multiple sources we use to bring this helpful information to you. We encourage you to check them out!
https://www.sortiraparis.com/en
https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/things-to-do-in-paris-in-february.html
https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/paris-events-february.html
