Here is the 2nd installment of my guide to the free events to enjoy this summer if you are staying in (or visiting) the capital. Once again, it is an opportunity to prove to you that staying in Paris in the summer is not necessarily a punishment.
This part will be dedicated to other events and festivals that I didn’t have the opportunity to cover in the other 2 articles.
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Summer at the Canal de l’Ourcq
This event, which returns to bring the weekends in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis to life along the banks of the Canal de l’Ourcq, will be held from July 2nd to August 21, 2016.
In total, 2 months of coolness along the Canal de l’Ourcq to enjoy the many festive and cultural activities that unfold at various stops: to be shared with family, friends, or as a couple, with your feet in the water.
On the program: river shuttles at €1 (Saturdays) or €2 (Sundays), street art, barge balls, festive and night cruises (featuring mystery or oenology themes), zodiac trips, concerts, open-air cinema (again), water activities, shows for children, exhibitions, brunch or apéro-concert cruises, …
I was lucky enough to try a brunch cruise prepared by Marmites Volantes, and frankly, it was really lovely.
These brunch cruises take place every weekend during the Summer of the Canal, on Saturdays and Sundays, and the cruise lasts from 1:00 PM (be sure to be on time for the departure!) to 3:00 PM. As seats are limited, it is preferable to book if you wish to try this brunch cruise on the Canal de l’Ourcq.
Price: €26 / child menu at €16 (cruise + brunch)
For more information and to see the full event program, click here.
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Summer Garden at the Musée du Quai Branly
Like every summer, the Musée du Quai Branly offers an original and free program as part of the Summer Garden (Jardin d’été), an event with multiple summer echoes.
On the program: workshops, storytelling, initiations, ‘Discovery of Meditation’ afterworks (Thursdays 07/28 and 08/25, from 7 PM to 9 PM), aromatherapy, ‘Electronic Naps’ (Siestes Électroniques) in the museum garden in July (with sharp DJ sets to be listened to while lying down, featuring guests you shouldn’t miss), readings with a reading lounge and nomadic books, performances, concerts, and shows…
Table of Contents
Musée du Quai Branly / 37, Quai Branly – 75007 Paris
from July 1 to August 31, 2016, from 4 PM to 6 PM
Electronic Naps (Siestes Électroniques)
every Sunday in July until July 17 from 4 PM to 6 PM upon reservation
free and open access
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La Clichy Plage, near Paris
The City of Clichy offers its residents summer entertainment themed around the Olympics and Brazil, around the Gérard Durant swimming pool. From July 9 to August 21, for only €1 (free for children under 3), residents of Clichy will enjoy the wellness area, outdoor activities, water games (swimming and aqua aerobics classes), and the climbing tower.
On the program:
- Swedish gymnastics classes on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 12 PM
- A climbing tower open every day except Tuesdays from 2 PM to 6 PM, and from 11 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM on weekends
- Swimming and aqua aerobics classes (Thursdays and Tuesdays from 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM)
- An introduction to fencing with the participation of CSC Escrime on Wednesdays from 12 PM to 2 PM starting from July 20
- A diving baptism offered by CLIP on Saturday, July 23, and August 20 from 10 AM to 1 PM
Gérard Durant Swimming Pool
from Saturday, July 9 to Sunday, August 21, 2016
every day from 10 AM to 8 PM
Adult residents of Clichy: €1 / Free for under 3s / Free upon presentation of the Sports Pass available at the pool and the One-Stop Shop
Free activities
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Paris Quartier d’Été
The 27th edition of the festival will be held from July 14 to August 7, 2016, and will spill its summer madness over the capital and its outskirts.
Part of the program is paid, however, many shows are free (such as the two performances presented at the Musée national Picasso-Paris); the best thing is to keep a close eye on the events of this festival.
The now-unmissable festival is stopping by Bercy Village again this year, mooring at Bercy Village to present several free favorite shows.
As with every edition, Paris Quartier d’Été brings life to different districts of the capital but also now to suburban towns like Pantin, Nanterre, La Courneuve, or Saint-Denis, by taking over often atypical venues.
Paris Quartier d’Été Festival
shows from July 14 to August 7, 2016
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Festiv’été in Saint-Ouen
Summer arrives at the Grand Parc and in the neighborhoods of Saint-Ouen from mid-July to mid-August.
On the program: gardening, sports initiations, pony rides, outings in the region or to the seaside… multiple activities to relax, have fun, and get a change of scenery.
Festiv’été in Saint Ouen
from July 2 to August 5, 2016
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L’Été Defacto in La Défense
L’Été Defacto in La DéfenseL’Été Defacto returns for a 3rd edition this year from July 7 to August 14, 2016, and transforms the Place de La Défense into a friendly and lively space 7 days a week, much like Rio de Janeiro.
On the program, numerous free activities over nearly 3000 m2 with giant games, concerts and DJ sets, sports afterworks, beauty trucks for women and men, gardening and cooking workshops, activities for children, and other surprises!
Été Defacto
Place de La Défense
From July 7 to August 14, 2016, from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM
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Paris Plage
Like every year, Paris Plage sets the pace for the capital’s summer by transforming the quays into beaches with refreshment stalls, umbrellas, and the city then takes on the appearance of a seaside resort with, as guests of honor this year, the cities of Tunis and Sousse.
Thus, and in close collaboration with the Embassy of Tunisia and the Tunisian National Tourism Office, the Voie Georges Pompidou will transform into Quai Jasmin with a 120-meter beach where, for 5 days (from July 20 to 24), artistic, cultural (ephemeral library, photo exhibition, etc.), craft, and gastronomic (tastings of dishes and pastries) appointments will follow one another to give a Tunisian touch to this 2016 edition.
On the program: numerous free activities offered throughout the summer from July 20 to August 21: cultural, fun, and sports proposals (tai-chi classes, ballroom dancing, or games of pétanque), water leisure activities, live shows broadcast on a giant screen every weekend on the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville, boat shuttles on the Canal de l’Ourcq from the Bassin de la Villette to Bondy and Aulnay-sous-Bois, …
And this year for the first time, the Musée de la Marine is setting up its summer quarters at Paris-Plages near the Bassin de la Villette (Quai de la Seine, after the Moselle footbridge) and offers fun and free activities every day related to the sea and sustainable development.
The tip: for this first participation, the museum is partnering with the Louvre Museum to offer a chance to win invitations to the Louvre and the Musée de la Marine. The principle: present yourself at the Musée de la Marine stand with your Louvre Museum badge, and you will win two invitations to the Louvre Museum, and vice versa.
The association Tous à Table is even creating its ‘Buena Onda’ Solidarity Guinguette at Paris Plages, on the Bassin de la Villette, in collaboration with the Café A.
This guinguette reserves a quota of its covers for customers who only pay 10% of the price of their meal for a lunch or dinner, every day from July 20 to August 21, 2016.
Paris Plage
banks of the Seine / Bassin de la Villette
from July 20 to August 21 / from 9 AM to midnight
All activities are free
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The Tréteaux Nomades Festival
This traveling festival from the Arènes de Montmartre returns to meet Parisians from August 22 to September 4, 2016.
On the program are shows for all audiences and young audiences featuring Commedia dell’arte in various Parisian locations (Arènes de Montmartre, Place Sainte Marthe, courtyard of the Hôtel de Beauvais, etc.).
The tip: free introductory workshops to Commedia dell’arte for children will be organized from August 22 to 26 from 3 PM to 5 PM (by registration only).
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Les Traversées du Marais Festival
Les Traversées du Marais FestivalFor its 2nd edition, the Les Traversées du Marais festival offers balls, concerts, dance, theater, screenings, conferences, and workshops themed around the carnival in 16 cultural venues of the Marais, members of the ‘Marais Culture +’ network.
The tip: the free programming for all audiences and for the vast majority of events.
2nd edition from September 9 to 11, 2016
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For more ideas for outings this summer in Paris, do not hesitate to take a look at the other articles in this same theme of my Parisian summer guide.
- Part 1 of the free Paris summer guide: musical festivals
- Part 3 of the free Paris summer guide: open-air screenings
