The greatest Show

If the smell of popcorn and the taste of cotton candy melting in your mouth, the sounds of merry-go-round music, dizzying Ferris-wheels, and the colorful hues of the fairground are beckoning this spring, for families, couples or just to let your inner child free to roam, here’s a selection of our favorite places to feel that carnival atmosphere and awaken the inner child in Paris this spring 2018.

Festival on the grass

Foire de Trone : Favor cotton candy and fun rides? The Foire de Trone has arrived! Starting March 30th to the 27th of May, 350 attractions and 80 rides this temporary fairground which plants itself on the lawn of Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement. Caters to all ages, a carnival theme the May 20th and don’t miss the firework show the 26th. And for all those budding astronauts out there, the new ride, “starlight” will give you a taste of life without gravity. From noon to midnight every week day and from noon until 1am Saturdays and holidays.|
Metro: Liberté – Porte Dorée – Porte de Charenton.

The park of choice for Parisians

The Jardin d’acclimatation, situated in the Bois de Boulogne, is a traditional (160 years-old!) park “ à la français” with its well-kept gardens, swings and slides for children to play on, a small zoo,with an aviary, bears, a petting zoo, and an amusement park, complete with rides and attractions all in one. At one end is the sleek Louis Vuitton Foundation and at the other a train which takes you from the metro stop Porte Maillot through green trees and winding paths with joggers and roller skaters. Portions of the park have been closed for massive renovation this winter and will be re-opening in May.  

Jardin d’acclimatation, open every day from 11am to 6pm, week-ends and school holidays from 10 am to 6pm. For information call: 01 40 67 90 85  

If you are coming by metro get off at Sablons and take the exit number 2, then the rue d’Orléans, the entrance to the park is 500 meters from there.    

A journey back in time

Musée des Arts Forains (Museum of fairground arts ): As the creator of the museum, Jean Paul Favand, states, “Laughter and Parties did not have a museum, yet so many are dedicated to wars. I created a world of dreams…”

A highly original concept, this interactive museum in the Pavillion de Bercy, is designed to take the visitor back in time to the amusement parks of our (great)-grand-parents. In a charming atmosphere of yesteryear right out of the set for the Greatest Showman, the museum will fascinate children and awaken the inner child of adults. The visitor plays a starring role as they are encouraged to touch and ride the antique merry go rounds, carnivals, gardens and ornate attractions. Reservations are necessary. English tours are held in the summer and informational booklets in English are available

53, avenue des Terroirs de France Paris 75012 – telephone: 33(0) 1 43 40 16 22 – Metro: Cour Saint-Emilion

The wheel that turns

The Tuilleries gardens, between rue de Rivoli and the Louvre, host their own fairground for the month of June and July, with the traditional attractions like roller coasters, bumper cars, giant trampolines, shooting ranges, and the like and of course the giant ferries wheel which is the star of the show and is in place all year now. For couples, for families with fun for all ages.  A perfect carmeled-apple way to end the day of touring the Louvre, Champs-Elysée neighborhood.

Tulleries gardens, Place de la Concorde – Metro: Concorde

Of course, as you leave the funfair of  fairground to the city of light itself, we are sure you’ll agree, Paris, above all is the best show on earth.