To say that Paris is lively every summer is an understatement. Sure, the city has many events in store come summertime, but it's a lot busier than you probably realize. Once this season comes, you can expect more people to go outside. And they're not just enjoying the bright sunshine either! Part of what makes Paris in summer so hectic is the flurry of annual festivals it hosts. There are Paris l'Eté Festival, Festival Classique au Vert, and the Cinema Outdoors at The Parc de la Villette, among many others. Held in various parts of the city, they help make summer all the more fun in the French capital!
Paris l'Eté Festival
Since 1990, Paris l'Eté Festival has enchanted both locals and tourists alike every summer. Translated as the 'Paris Summer Festival,' this is an annual event that takes place throughout many neighborhoods in Paris. It's essentially a series of live street performances, held in various public squares. You can expect impromptu dance performances, live music, street theater, and even the circus. The Paris l'Eté Festival highlights the performing arts, which has long been one of the best parts of the French capital. Both local artists and established names take part in this summer festival in Paris.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Festival Classique au Vert
Held at the Esplanade du château de Vincennes every summer, the Festival Classique au Vert is all about classical music at its finest. In a more open and welcoming atmosphere, classical musicians in the French capital show off their God-given talents in the Parc Floral de Paris. The combination of the beautiful flowers with the classical music conjures up a stunning scene you won't want to miss as you experience Paris in summer. The Festival Classique au Vert spans seven weekends starting from late June to early September. You'll have a lot of chances to catch these extraordinary performances live!
Paris Jazz Festival
Now, what if you're more into jazz than classical music? Not to worry! There's also the Paris Jazz Festival to look forward to. Founded in 1994 by two jazz fans in the city, it eventually grew into one of the most hotly-anticipated annual events every summer in Paris. What's great is that the festival is open to both local and foreign artists. As long as you love and play jazz, you can take part in this one-of-a-kind musical celebration. And though the main concert is at the Parc Floral de Paris, you can also expect a few small performances throughout the
many arrondissements of Paris.
Summer Festivities at The Canal de l’Ourcq
Truth be told, the Canal de l’Ourcq is one of the more
underrated parts of Paris. Since the Seine River is such a famous spot in the city, many easily overlook this serene body of water that's just as enchanting. And every summer, the banks that line the canal offer up awesome activities and events you won't want to miss. Though it's not a standard festival, per se, the summer festivities at The Canal de l’Ourcq are still lots of fun. You can expect movie screenings, pop-up bars, water sports, and even the famous
Paris plage!
Cinema Outdoors at The Parc de la Villette
While Cannes has its famous film festival every May, Paris has its own outdoor cinema at the Parc de la Villette. From July onwards, this open Paris holds special film screenings at night, offering up a great place for people to hang out to enjoy the city's cool nightly breezes. They show all sorts of incredible movies here, from award-winning features to local indies worth your while. Not to mention a few
Disney films for the whole family to enjoy too. Grab a seat or bring your own and don't forget to pack a picnic to enjoy the show!
Open Air Opera
From an open-air cinema to an open-air opera! You may have already noticed that many of the festivals that make Paris in summer much more exciting are related to the arts. From classical music to jazz, live theater performances to outdoor movie screenings, these events are all about providing so much-needed summer entertainment. And you can add open-air opera to that mix as well! Held at grandiose locations such as the
famous châteaus, Château de Fontainebleau & Château de Vincennes, these are nights of high-class refineries you won't soon forget!
Paris in summer is always going to be exciting! Why? Because the city offers a ton of great festivals and exciting events every year. There are concerts, live music performances, games, parties and more that you won't want to miss!
