France mixes business with pleasure in a big way at 2008 Foire de Paris
April 18, 2008
French shoppers and curiosity-seekers head to Paris’ Porte de Versailles April 30 – May 12 for La Foire De Paris, Paris’ biggest international trade show.
Springtime in Paris means so many things: lovers kissing in the park, long walks along the Seine, the chestnut trees in bloom. But since 1904, April in Paris also means it’s time for La Foire De Paris, a vast trade show, market, county fair and spectacle which takes place over two hectic weeks in the exhibition space at Paris’ Porte de Versailles.
It’s hard to classify what you’ll find at La Foire de Paris, since its nearly 50 acres of stalls, tents, stages and stands is an enormous hodgepodge of home furnishings, cooking demonstrations, classes, fashion shows, auto shows…you name it. The Foire de Paris has tried to corral all its offerings this year into three themes: Home & Environment, dedicated to decoration, gardening and pools and do-it-yourself; Well-Being and Leisure, which covers a huge gamut of fashion, cooking, entertainment, travel and other fun activities; and Cultures of the World, which features cultural demonstrations from around the globe, local crafts, food, music and more.
People from all over France come to La Foire de Paris to gawk, to browse but certainly to shop. Since the Foire began in 1904, it’s been a way for the French to sample wares from all over the world and dream about what they would buy if they could. In fact, La Foire de Paris is “leche-vitrine” (French for window-shopping; literally “licking the window”) on a grand scale, and without windows. There are numerous hands-on classes and activities for people of all ages as well as special events, contests and concerts dotted throughout the two weeks. La Foire de Paris is both a shopper’s paradise and a day of family entertainment. The show runs every day non-stop from 10 AM – 7 PM, with a 9:30 AM start on weekends and holidays. A day’s admission costs 12 Euros, 7 Euros for kids up to 14. For more information (in French only) and to purchase tickets in advance, go to Foire de Paris website.
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