Open House 2026
Fall Fête

Discover the joie de vivre of learning French this fall!

L’Alliance New York Manhattan invites you to our annual Open House/Fall Fête on Saturday, September 19 to enjoy a series of unforgettable classes and workshops that highlight our educational and cultural offerings. Kids and adults can experience the L’Alliance New York difference with a trial French class, and also enjoy a free story time, a creative arts workshop, and catch a French movie! Our teachers and staff will be on hand to answer all your questions and help you find the right class or program.

Trial French Classes for Adults and Children
9:30am-4:15pm

L’Alliance New York’s Language Center will offer $20 trial French classes for adults and children at multiple levels of experience. Get a taste of learning French at L’Alliance New York in these 30-minute classes for children and 45-minute classes for adults. The $20 fee will be deducted from your Fall class registration when you sign up for a full class (new students only). Students registering for a trial class will be entered into a raffle to win a free individual membership!

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Please note: your spot will be released if you are late for your reserved timeslot.

Preschool Information & Tours
10am-1pm

Interested in learning more about L’Alliance Preschool? Visit the 3rd Floor to meet the Director of our full-time French-immersion program for toddlers ages 2 ½-5 to get more information and visit our classrooms.

Library Open House, Book Sale & Book Exchange
10am-5pm

Stop by our library to participate in our fall book sale and exchange and browse our extensive collection of French language materials including books, novels and popular magazines! Bring in a used French-language book, in good condition and not more than 10 years old, to exchange books with other patrons, or purchase a book from our book sale.

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L’Alliance New York Membership
10am-5pm

Come chat with our Membership team to learn about all the exciting perks and join with a 10% discount, exclusive to the Open House! Core benefits include preferred pricing on language classes, exclusive events, special access to cultural programming, free members-only film screenings, guest tickets, library privileges, and partner discounts. Students registering for a trial class will be entered into a raffle to win a free individual membership!

Language Center Table
10am-5pm

At the Language Center table you can speak to a teacher or L’Alliance New York representative about your French language goals! You can also learn more about our French-immersion preschool and other fun children’s programs, as well as our international immersion voyages led by native French speakers to French-speaking cities around the world.

French Family Screening: Le Roi et l’Oiseau (The King and the Mockingbird)
1:30pm

Enjoy a cozy screening of the beloved French animated classic Le Roi et l’Oiseau (The King and the Mockingbird). Share this timeless story of courage, imagination, and freedom with family and friends while discovering one of France’s most celebrated animated films in a warm and welcoming setting.

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, the film follows two young lovers as they escape the clutches of a tyrannical king with the help of a witty and fearless mockingbird. Blending fantasy, humor, poetry, and adventure, Le Roi et l’Oiseau  has captivated generations of audiences with its unforgettable characters, beautiful animation, and enduring message of hope and freedom.

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Family Programs:

Colorful Cities: A Modern Architecture Workshop
10:15am

In this family workshop led by Caroline Garin, founder of KidzArchitects, participants will explore the playful world of modern architecture, drawing inspiration from minimalist design and colorful geometric compositions to imagine buildings of their own. Offered in both French and English, the workshop encourages curiosity, creativity, and language-learning through design.

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Storytime
11:30am

Drop in for a free family-style French story time in our Haskell Library. It will be held in the main reading room and will feature stories carefully curated for our fall back-to-school theme!

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Coloring
12pm-2pm

After Storytime, coloring activities will be available to students and families throughout the library’s usual Saturday hours. 

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Chess en français
12pm

Discover the joy of chess. This is a free trial class; the full 10-week  session begins September 26. Presented in partnership with Story Time Chess and led by a bilingual instructor, young players learn the fundamentals of the game through engaging stories, memorable characters, and interactive activities that make chess fun and accessible.

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