Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2025: A Full Guide to Paris’s Most Joyful Autumn Event
Every October, the slopes of Montmartre burst into celebration for the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, one of Paris’s oldest and most beloved festivals.
Centered around the Clos Montmartre vineyard, it’s a week where wine, food, music, and community take over the streets of the 18th arrondissement.
The 2025 edition runs from October 8 to 12, marking the festival’s 92nd year, under the theme “Le 18e éternellement jeune” – the eternal youth of Montmartre.
The Story Behind the Festival
Montmartre’s wine-making roots go back centuries. Vineyards once covered much of the Butte, supplying local taverns and cabarets. But by the early 1900s, urban expansion and phylloxera had nearly erased them.
In 1933, local artists and residents reestablished a small vineyard on Rue des Saules – the Clos Montmartre – as a tribute to that heritage. The following year, the first harvest festival was held to celebrate its rebirth.
Since then, the event has grown into a cornerstone of Parisian culture. Each year, it gathers hundreds of thousands of visitors for a celebration that mixes tradition, performance, and solidarity.
The wine produced from the Clos’s 1,700 vines is sold for charity, supporting social programs across the 18th arrondissement.
The Vineyard at the Heart of It All
The Clos Montmartre remains a working vineyard, quietly located between Rue des Saules and Rue Saint-Vincent.
Managed by the city, it produces around 1,000 bottles per year, a symbolic yield rather than a commercial one. The bottles, often featuring labels designed by local artists, are auctioned to fund local projects.
Guided tours of the vineyard are a highlight of the festival. Visitors can step among the vines, learn about the soil and grape varieties (mainly Gamay and Pinot Noir), and hear the story of how the vineyard survived decades of change.
Entry is limited, and reservations are essential – it’s one of the few times the Clos opens to the public.
The 2025 Program Highlights
The 2025 edition spans five days, each with a packed schedule. From vineyard visits and parades to concerts and tastings, it’s a full immersion in Montmartre’s creative and community life.
Wednesday, October 8: Opening Day
The festival opens with a launch evening at the town hall of the 18th arrondissement. Before that, the first vineyard tours take place in the morning, giving visitors an early taste of the event’s atmosphere.
Families can join the “Boum des Bambins,” a joyful children’s party with games, music, and snacks at Gymnase Bertrand Dauvin.
By night, the first Décibels Vendanges concerts begin at venues like ADN Montmartre and Le Hasard Ludique. These free concerts showcase emerging French and international artists and set the musical tone for the days ahead.
Thursday, October 9: Sport, Film, and Youth
Thursday brings the Course Nocturne des Vendanges, a nighttime run through Montmartre’s winding streets. It’s both a race and a celebration, with live music and spectators cheering along the route near Square Louise Michel.
The day also includes a screening of “Barbès Football Nation” at the 18th arrondissement town hall and a conference titled “Le secret de l’éternelle jeunesse du 18e” at La Maison Bleue, reflecting the year’s theme. For those more interested in tradition, vineyard tours continue throughout the afternoon.
Friday, October 10: The Taste of Montmartre
Friday marks the official start of the Parcours du Goût, a sprawling food and wine market that stretches around Sacré-Cœur. Dozens of regional producers from across France set up stalls selling everything from Burgundy wines to Basque charcuterie and Provençal honey.
Visitors can stroll between stands, sampling cheeses, pastries, and wines, or sit on the steps of the basilica to watch the city glow below.
Vineyard visits and cultural events continue through the day, while evening performances, including the contemporary dance “Prélude” by Kader Attou’s company, bring the artistic flair Montmartre is known for.
Saturday, October 11: Parade Day
Saturday is the festival’s liveliest day. The Grand Défilé, or harvest parade, winds its way through the streets in a swirl of color and music.
Wine brotherhoods from all over France march alongside brass bands, dancers, and local associations. Traditional costumes, banners, and grape-themed floats fill the hill with noise and laughter.
The Parcours du Goût continues, offering more opportunities to taste regional delicacies. In the evening, the Décibels Vendanges concerts take over again, turning Montmartre into an open-air stage for up-and-coming artists.
Sunday, October 12: Final Celebration
The closing day begins with one of Montmartre’s quirkiest traditions: the Cérémonie des Non-Demandes en Mariage at Place des Abbesses, a humorous celebration of love without the pressure of marriage.
Later, sports and street events take place at Parc Chapelle Charbon, where visitors can watch freestyle basketball and BMX shows or try wheelchair basketball.
Vineyard visits run throughout the day, offering one last chance to see the Clos before it closes again for another year.
The festival ends with the Bal “Forever Young”, an outdoor dance party at Square Louise Michel that brings together locals and visitors in a joyful finale overlooking Paris.
Décibels Vendanges: The Soundtrack of the Festival
Music has become an essential part of the Fête des Vendanges. The Décibels Vendanges series features live concerts each evening at small venues across the neighborhood. Expect indie pop, jazz, funk, and electronic performances from emerging artists.
In 2025, ADN Montmartre will host acts like Morjane Ténéré, Mackenzie Leighton, Sophie oZ, and KALUPTO.
At Le Hasard Ludique, the lineup includes LORD$, LIROSE, and SAINTE VICTOIRE. Entry is free, and the vibe is relaxed – the kind of intimate concert where you can chat with the artists afterward over a glass of wine.
The Parcours du Goût Culinary Journey
The Taste Trail is one of the festival’s biggest attractions. It’s not a formal tasting route but a lively open-air market wrapping around Sacré-Cœur and Rue Azaïs. Artisans and regional producers come from across France to share their specialties.
You might try oysters from Brittany, foie gras from the Southwest, truffle sausages from Périgord, and apple cider from Normandy. Wine stalls pour generous tastings of reds, whites, and rosés.
The atmosphere is convivial and very local, it feels more like a village fair than a Paris event. Arrive early if you can; by midday, it gets crowded.
How to Visit the Clos Montmartre Vineyard
Access to the vineyard is restricted most of the year, so the festival is your best chance to see it up close. Tours are led by local guides who explain the vines’ history, the grape varieties, and the winemaking process in this unique urban setting.
Book online through the official website as soon as registration opens. Tours are small, and places fill quickly.
The vineyard sits behind a gate at the top of Rue des Saules, just below the Musée de Montmartre. From the terraces, you get a rare view over the rooftops of the 18th arrondissement.
How to Make the Most of the Festival
To fully experience the Vendanges, balance the highlights with a bit of wandering. Start early with a vineyard visit, then spend a few hours along the Parcours du Goût.
Grab lunch from one of the food stands and sit on the steps of Sacré-Cœur – the view is unbeatable.
In the afternoon, catch a concert or a street performance, then stay for the evening concerts or the closing ball. The mood changes as the sun sets: what begins as a food fair turns into a night of live music, laughter, and dancing under the lights of Montmartre.
Wear comfortable shoes. The hill’s cobbled streets and stairways can be steep. Bring a small bag for any wine or cheese you buy, and dress in layers as October nights in Paris can be cool. The nearest metro stops are Abbesses, Anvers, and Lamarck-Caulaincourt.
If you want to avoid crowds, aim for Wednesday or Thursday, when the festival is still warming up. The weekend, especially Saturday afternoon, is packed but electric, the best moment if you want the full Montmartre energy.
Why It’s Worth Attending
Few festivals capture Paris’s local soul like the Fête des Vendanges. It’s community-driven, joyful, and rooted in history. There’s no corporate gloss, no VIP sections, just music, laughter, and the scent of wine and roasted chestnuts drifting through the streets.
It’s also one of the few events that unite the entire 18th arrondissement: artists, school groups, local associations, and long-time residents all take part.
You’ll see children from nearby schools marching in the parade, chefs serving their regional specialties, and musicians playing on street corners.
For visitors, it’s a rare chance to see Montmartre beyond the postcard – alive, spontaneous, and full of warmth.
The Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2025 runs from October 8 to 12. Check the full program and reservation details on fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com. If you’re in Paris this autumn, there’s no better way to experience the city’s spirit.