Somewhere in the East of Paris, there’s a place where you can disconnect from everything. Where the ticking clock and daily demands give way to the magic of the world of festivity and spectacle from the 19th century. Where doors transform into red velvet curtains, carousels from another era stand proudly in the middle of the halls, and the curiosities on display are just waiting for curious minds to come alive. Where, if you listen closely, you might hear the tunes of the Charleston echoing.
©Pavillons de Bercy
This place is the Musée des Arts Forains, nestled in the Bercy district. Like every year, once December rolls around, it hosts its unmissable Festival of Wonder. From December 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026, visitors are invited to experience a timeless immersion, filled with exhibitions and shows that are both dreamlike and enchanting. And for this 15th edition, the “Stage Costumes” are the stars of the celebration.
About ten shows a day throughout the festival
A red jewel box, sparkling fringes that shimmer as you pass by.
visitors… In the Magic Mirror — this traveling ballroom that roamed the villages in the 19th century — just like in the Theatre of Wonders, the Venetian Salons, the Green Theatre, or the Museum of Fairground Arts, the promise of an extraordinary journey through time is fulfilled from the very first moments.
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©Pavillons de Bercy
Tanoura Dance by Ibrahim Hassan, serpentine dance inspired by the legendary Loïe Fuller by Laurette de Paname, catchy tap dance by Philou and Billy, aerial act featuring Nathalie Jeanson, poetic bubble performances by Slash Bubbles, and magic and illusions presented by Sophie Edelstein… During the entire Festival of Wonder, around ten shows are scheduled, all performed four times a day. The goal? « To offer the unusual, shows that you won't see anywhere else », explains Clémentine Favand, Director of the Museum of Fairground Arts and daughter of the venue's creator. «
The most iconic costumes are back in the spotlight
At the heart of this burst of whimsy, colors and old-time games shine with stunning stage costumes, arranged as if they naturally belonged to the decor. Coming from the circus, ballet, opera, cinema or music hall, these pieces worthy of works of art, made of luxurious fabrics, feathers and sequins, are emerging from the precious reserves of the museum to delight the public. The French Cancan dresses mingle with Brigitte Bardot's outfit from the film Boulevard du Rhum, or the headdress worn by Joséphine Baker during her last concert in New York, in 1973.
©Lucie Guerra
Over 30 years of telling magical and festive stories
It was in 1996 that Jean Paul Favand, a passionate antique dealer and enthusiastic collector of festive-related items, took over les chais Lheureux in the 12th arrondissement. The spacious venue allows him to showcase his beautiful treasures, both small and grand. He then brought to life the spectacular museum we now know as the Musée des Arts Forains or Pavillons de Bercy. Why here? « Where there are cellars, there is wine, there is a guinguette, there are artists, there is celebration », explains Clémentine Favand, who has taken over the family business.
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Since then, the establishment continues to bring to life and share with a wide audience, the heritage of 19th-century festivities and performances. From the Moulin Rouge to Venice, from the tunes of guinguette to those of commedia dell’arte, the museum’s five spaces offer an escape beyond the borders of time and space, to make the audience dream and enjoy the present moment». Nothing is left to chance. On the contrary, here, the objects are actors positioned to tell a story ».
Open for free wandering during the Festival of Wonders, the Museum of Arts Forains can also be explored throughout the year with weekly guided tours, ....
target="_blank">on reservation. A journey that revives our inner child, leaving us with sparkling eyes full of wonder.
Festival of Wonders: "Costumes on Stage"
Pavillons de Bercy — Museum of Fairground Arts
53, Avenue des Terroirs de France — 12th Arrondissement
From December 26, 2025, to January 4, 2026
Every day from 10 AM to 6 PM
More info and reservations