As I mentioned in the previous 3 years, staying in Paris during the summer isn’t necessarily a punishment (though this year I’m seriously questioning that…), but you have to know how to take advantage of it, because free events are abundant during this summer period (even if the weather doesn’t seem to have fully grasped the “summer” concept yet, but we’re still hopeful it will get there).
With the month of June, various free Parisian festivals have begun setting up in the capital, some running until the beginning of October.
I’m therefore returning to my idea of putting together a little guide of the free events and festivals that you can discover this summer in the capital. Likely under pouring rain half the time, but I’m certain that won’t stop you—it’s the perfect time to remember we aren’t made of sugar! Self-persuasion is a wonderful thing…
Anyway, I’m going to split this article into 3 parts, with this first post focused on music festivals; the 3rd article will deal more with outdoor cinema screenings, and the 2nd will gather all the remaining festivals, shows, and entertainment.
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The Paris Jazz Festival
The Paris Jazz Festival, which will celebrate its 23rd edition, will take place as it does every year at the Parc Floral of the City of Paris Botanical Garden from June 11th to July 31st, 2016.
On the program: concerts in a lush, green setting, both during the day and in the evening (2 night sessions on June 11th and July 31st), every Saturday and Sunday throughout June and July. For this 2016 edition, themed weekends featuring jazz scenes from Switzerland, the United States, Cuba, and even Armenia will be offered to spectators.
The Tip: The concerts are free, only the park admission (from €3 to €6) remains, which is still a very good deal.
Table of Contents
Paris Jazz Festival / Parc Floral – 75012 Paris
Park opening hours: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
June 11 to July 31, 2016
Concerts at 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM
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La Plage du Glazart
Like every year, Glazart dumps 50 tons of sand to set up its beach at Porte de la Villette from June 2nd to October 1st, 2016, creating a Mediterranean atmosphere.
On the program: deckchairs, food trucks, free concerts every Wednesday for discoveries, showcases, techno/house days, afterworks with DJs, foosball & pétanque on the (rare!) days without concerts, Thursday evenings with free clubbing, open-air clubs on Fridays and Saturdays (always with 2 hours of free entry), a cruise on August 13th, and family Sundays with brunch, flea markets, and all kinds of entertainment.
Note: the next edition of Acid Avengers will take place in the Open Air on LaPlage de Glazart on July 8th from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
A little new feature for the last 2 years on LaPlage: a part is covered to mitigate any unpredictable weather (though one wonders why? It’s absolutely not moody, this weather…).
Le Glazart
June 2 to October 1, 2016
7-15 Avenue de la porte de la villette, 75019 Paris
Metro Porte de la Villette
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Bercy Village
From June 21st to August 25th, 2016, Bercy Village will offer 100% free concerts through the Musiques en Terrasse festival, as well as theater, dance, and circus acts as part of Paris Quartier d’Été.
For its 4th year of collaboration with the programming team of the Petit Bain concert venue, the Musiques en Terrasse festival takes visitors from the Cour Saint-Emilion to the four corners of the globe and treats them to entirely free outdoor concerts!
Bercy Village Musiques en Terrasse Festival
Every Thursday at 6:30 PM from June 21 to August 25, 2016
Bercy Village stage, Cour Saint-Emilion, opposite the FNAC
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The Opéra côté Cour festival, an outdoor and entirely free opera festival, returns for its 5th edition at Bercy Village, every Sunday from June 12th to 26th and every Sunday in September 2016, in the heart of Cour Saint-Emilion.
This year again, the menu will be hearty and hold some lovely musical surprises. This year, the Opéra côté Cour festival invites the public to explore the capital through music and through the ages. This 5th edition is dedicated to Paris, which has inspired the greatest artists, both Parisian and international, whether they are composers of opera, operetta, or popular songs.
Duration approximately 40 minutes, two performances at 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM
Bercy Village Stage, Cour Saint-Emilion
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The Fnac Live Festival
The Fnac Live festival returns for a 6th edition on the parvis of the Paris City Hall for 4 evenings of free concerts from Wednesday, July 20th to Saturday, July 23rd, 2016.
Alongside the Parvis stage, for the fourth consecutive year, Fnac Live will present more intimate concerts each evening, housed in the exceptional setting of the City Hall Salons.
On the program for this event, a great lineup that illustrates the diversity of musical genres, including Jungle, Yael Naim, Lianne La Havas, Balthazar, Lilly Wood & The Prick, Vianney, La Maison Tellier, Hyphen Hyphen, Vincent Delerm, Katerine, Keren Ann, Alex Beaupain, Vincent Delerm, Miossec, and Fakear (an artist not to be missed, whom I discovered last year at Solidays).
Parvis of the Paris City Hall, 75004 Paris
July 20 to July 23, 2016
Metro Hôtel de Ville
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Classique au vert
The Classique au vert festival will take place at the Parc Floral every weekend from August 6th to September 18th, 2016.
On the program is classical music with a very beautiful schedule, just like every year.
Parc Floral – City of Paris Botanical Garden
August 6 to September 18, 2016
Free admission after paying the park entrance fee (from €3 to €6)
Metro Château de Vincennes
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L’Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
L’Estival de Saint-Germain-en-LayeThe new lineup for the Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which will take place from September 23rd to October 8th, 2016.
For more than two weeks, the festival will host numerous artists, and since its creation in 1988, L’Estival has given a prime spot to young budding artists, so Radio Elvis or even Jil is Lucky will share the bill with the big names of the French scene.
The festival will host Mickey 3D, Jamait, Philippe Katerine with his new show highlighting his new album “Le Film”, the new sensation Kids United, Boulevard des Airs, Michel Jonasz, as well as Anggun and Joyce Jonathan.
September 23 to October 8, 2016
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
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I wish you all a very beautiful Parisian summer (hang in there, it will start one day, we believe in it!) and see you very soon to enjoy my other articles on this same theme.
- Part 2 of the free Paris summer guide: free outdoor screenings
- Part 3 of the free Paris summer guide: other events
