As I told you in previous years, staying in Paris during the summer isn’t necessarily a punishment, provided you know how to enjoy it, because there are plenty of free events during this summer period.
With the month of June, various free Parisian festivals have begun to settle into the capital, some lasting until the beginning of October.
I’m taking up my idea of creating a little guide to the free events and festivals you can discover this summer in the capital. Likely to be in pouring rain half the time (the other possibility being a heatwave), but I am sure that won’t stop you!
Anyway, I will separate this article into 2 parts and do a post mainly focused on music festivals for this part 1, and the 2nd will gather all the other festivals, shows, and entertainment remaining.
_
Table of Contents
The Paris Jazz Festival
The Paris Jazz FestivalThe Paris Jazz Festival, which will be in its 24th year, will be held as every year at the Parc Floral of the Paris Botanical Garden from June 17 to July 30, 2017.
On the program: concerts in a green setting, during the day and in the evening (4 night events this year), every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. For this 2017 edition, thematic weekends around Africa, Francophonie, or even a tribute to Bashung will be offered to spectators.
The Good Deal: The concerts are free, only the entrance to the park (from 3 to 6 €) remains paid, which is still a very good deal.
Paris Jazz Festival Parc Floral - 75012 Paris Park opening: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM June 17 to July 30, 2017 Concerts at 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM
_
La Plage du Glazart
As every year, Glazart pours 50 tons of sand to set up its beach at Porte de la Villette, from June 8 to September 30, 2017, in a Mediterranean atmosphere.
On the program: deckchairs, food trucks, free concerts every Wednesday in discovery mode, showcases, techno/house days, afterworks with DJs, foosball & pétanque on the (rare!) days without concerts, a Violette Sauvage clothing sale on Saturday, July 8, Thursday evenings with free clubbing, open-air clubs on Fridays and Saturdays (always with 2 hours of free entry), a cruise on August 13, and family Sundays featuring brunch, flea markets, and all sorts of activities.
Note the upcoming edition of Acid Avengers, which will take place on LaPlage de Glazart on June 23 for a 12-hour non-stop Open Air, from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
A small novelty for a few years on LaPlage: a part is covered to compensate for any weather whims (one wonders why? This weather is absolutely not fickle at all)…
Le Glazart June 8 to September 30, 2017 7-15 Avenue de la porte de la villette, 75019 Paris Metro Porte de la villette
_
The Summer House at the Mona Bismarck American Center
Discover the series of free concerts at the Mona Bismarck American Center! After the 2016 edition, Live@MBAC returns since the beginning of this June with an astonishing lineup.
A series of free and eclectic concerts, therefore, at the Mona Bismarck American Center, a hybrid venue dedicated to American pop culture.
From June 1st to July 4, 2017 Duration of each concert: approx. 2 hours Free Reservation recommended: rsvp@monabismarck.org Mona Bismarck American Center 34 Avenue de New York, 75116 Paris
_
Bercy Village
From June 21 to August 31, 2017, Bercy Village will offer 100% free concerts every Thursday of the summer through the Musiques en Terrasse festival, as well as theater, dance, and circus as part of Paris quartier d’été.
This year, Bercy Village is partnering with Allo Floride and its exclusive lineup that zigzags between pop, folk, soul, and electro.
Bercy Village Musiques en Terrasse Festival every Thursday from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM from June 21 to August 31, 2017 Bercy Village Stage, Cour Saint-Emilion, opposite FNAC
_
The Opéra côté Cour festival, an open-air opera festival and entirely free, returns for its 6th edition to Bercy Village, every Sunday in June and September 2017, in the heart of Cour Saint-Emilion.
Again this year, the menu will be hearty and full of musical surprises.
On the program, a repertoire that feels like a journey with Carmen cuisine where lyricism and Spain mingle in a crazy way, Quatuor Baïkal for classical and traditional pieces from the Russian repertoire, a historical traversal from opera to rock by the New Lyric Boys Band, or even La Traviata which shakes up genres by taking on the air of a detective investigation.
duration of about 40 minutes, two performances at 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM Bercy Village Stage, Cour Saint-Emilion
_
The FNAC Live festival
The Fnac Live festival returns for a 7th edition on the parvis of the Paris City Hall for 3 evenings of free concerts with 28 concerts from Thursday, July 6 to Saturday, July 8, 2017.
In parallel with the Scène du Parvis, Fnac Live will present every evening, for the fifth consecutive year, more intimate concerts, housed in the exceptional setting of the Salons de l’Hôtel de Ville.
On the program for this event, a beautiful lineup that illustrates the diversity of musical genres, including Julien Doré, Benjamin Biolay, Cassius, Julien Clerc, Fishbach, Rover, Tim Dup, The Blaze, The Horrors, Camille,….
Fnac Live Festival Parvis de l’Hôtel de Ville 75004 Paris from July 6 to July 8, 2017 Metro Hôtel de Ville
_
Classique au vert
The Classique au vert festival will take place at the Parc Floral every weekend from August 5 to September 17, 2017.
On the program is classical music with a very beautiful schedule, as every year.
Classique au Vert Parc Floral – Paris Botanical Garden from August 5 to September 17, 2017 Free admission after paying the park entrance fee (from 3 to 6 €) Metro Château de Vincennes
_
L’Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The new lineup for the Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye which will be held from September 22 to October 7, 2017.
For over 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, who will share the bill with big names from the French scene.
The festival will host Olivia Ruiz, Ben l’Oncle Soul, François Morel, Michaël Gregorio, and even Jane Birkin, who will come to perform the repertoire of Serge Gainsbourg accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
On the menu of festivities, L’Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye also offers the public the opportunity to discover 30 known and unknown artists for free and to commune in songs with Yael Naim, Tryo, and Clarika, loyal artists of the festival, who will mingle with the 80 choristers of the Chœur Dédicace, accompanied for the occasion by the choirs of the Les Nuits de Champagne festival, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017.
L'Estival de Saint-Germain-en-Laye From September 22 to October 7, 2017 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
_
I wish you all a very beautiful Parisian summer (hang in there, it will start one day, believe it!) and see you very soon to enjoy my other articles on this same theme.
- Part 2 of the free Paris summer guide: free open-air screenings
- Part 3 of the free Paris summer guide: other events
