Le Printemps des Poètes
March 3 – 16
This annual poetry festival is dedicated to giving poetry a public presence and making it accessible to all. Look out for verse in the most unexpected places, from railroad stations, to schools, hospitals, and FNACs. The Post Office will distribute 3 million poetry postcards.
See www.printempsdespoetes.com for full details.

Festival de l’Imaginaire
March 12 – April 18
The annual Festival of the Imagination hosts an eclectic selection of musicians and performers from around the globe. Always of a high pedigree, and often previously unknown in France, the artists range from the traditional to the contemporary. Festival goers can discover Japanese ritual theatre, Sicilian puppetry, and Finnish folk music among many other offerings. €11-30.
Various venues, including Maison des Cultures du Monde, 101, boulevard Raspail, Paris 6. Mº Montparnasse Bienvenue 01 45 44 72 30. www.mcm.asso.fr

Paris Fait Sa Comédie
March 27 - April 4
After last year’s resounding success, the capital’s comedy festival, Paris Fait Sa Comedie, returns with more than 35 venues around town. There should be something to coax a smile out of the most poker-faced Parisian. Festival pass €12.
Various venues. See www.parisfaitsacomedie.com

Semaine du Dessin
April 7 – 13
During the national Semaine du Dessin many museums, including the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, organize special exhibitions of their collections. Coinciding with “Drawing Week,” Paris’s annual Salon du Dessin is considered the most important event in the world for Old Masters drawings. This year, 36 galleries will present about 1,000 original works dating from the 16th century to 1970, representing French, German, Flemish, and English schools.
Salon du Dessin: €6-12. Palais de la Bourse, place de la Bourse, Paris 2. Mº Bourse. 01 45 22 08 77. www.salondudessin.com.
Semaine du Dessin: Full list of participating institutions at www.salondudessin.com. To sign up for an event: 01 45 22 61 05.