What's Happening in Paris This Week

For full details about an event, click on the title to visit the official Web site (in English when available).

June 27–July 26

Fun in the urban jungle

Garden Parvis is a month-long series of events, from concerts to table football tournaments, in Paris’s dedicated business district

La Défense, Paris

July 29

Live action art

Artist and athlete Zakea Page brings the two worlds together in a live performance and an exhibition of his Oscar-qualifying and award-winning short documentary Ink and Gold: An Artist’s Journey to Olympic Glory.

M-Gallery, Paris

June 11–August 4

Family fun at the train station

The Festival Playground on the parvis of the Gare de Lyon, features games, cooking demonstrations, food trucks, free food samples, pop-up stores and more.

Gare de Lyon, Paris

July 23–August 8

Eco-documentaries

Documentaries on the theme of climate action take center stage for the outdoor film fest Gare aux Docs.

La REcyclerie, Paris

June 27–August 8

Free concerts

Up-and-comers and well-known artists alike take to the stage for Bercy Village’s summer celebration, Musiques en Terrasse, on Thursday evenings.

Bercy Village, Paris

July 6–August 11

Summer fun on the canal

The Été du Canal festival offers theme cruises (street food, music, art, etc.) and other activities like balls, restaurants and bars.

Canal de l’Ourcq

July 22–August 11

French movies with English subtitles

Lost in Frenchlation will screen a different film every evening during the Olympic Games, including such favorites as Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie and Éric Rohmer’s Claire’s Knee.

Various locations, Paris

July 26–August 11

Another side of the Olympics

Art meets sport during the Cultural Olympiad, with events all over the city.

Various locations, Paris

June 19–August 25

Garden visits

Green spaces throughout the region hold cultural events for Jardins Ouverts en Île-de-France.

Various locations, Île-de-France

August 21-25

International rock festival

Huge artists, including Lana Del Rey and PJ Harvey, headline at Rock en Seine.  

Domaine de Saint Cloud, Paris

Through August 25

Old-school carnival

The Fête des Tuileries moves to the Bois du Boulogne to make way for the Olympics and is now called the Fête de l’Été à Paris.

Bois du Boulogne, Porte de la Muette, Paris

July 6–August 31

Open-air dance hall

African and Antillean music and food every summer weekend at the Guinguette Africaine de Suresnes.

Surennes, Île-de-France

July-August

Summer garden

For its Jardin d’Été festival, the Musée du Quai Branly stages a variety of free events in its garden.

Musée du Quai Branly

Through August 31

Rosa Happiness Castle

The Festival Rosa Bonheur offers a summer program of concerts, theater, readings and more at the château of the celebrated French artist.

Thomery, France

August 31-September 1

Jazz in the woods

Festival Jazz Art District presents six jazz bands in the wooded confines of the Fondation GoodPlanet.

Fondation GoodPlanet, Paris

Through September 7

Outdoor classical concerts

Concerts in the park at Festival Classique au Vert on the weekend.

Parc Floral

July 5–September 7

Free stargazing

Experts with the Astronomy Association of Paris freely offer their skills and equipment to show us the stars for Paris Sous les Étoiles.

Throughout Paris

August 30-September 7

Short film festival

Short films and concerts for Festival Silhouette.

Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge

July 6-September 8

Paris beaches

For the summer months, the banks of the river and canals are transformed into miniature beaches for Paris Plages. Note that because of the Olympic Games, the site on the Seine will be open only from August 6 to September 8. Pictured above: Swimming in the Canal Saint Martin.

Various locations,  Paris

June 30–September 8

Outdoor jazz

The Paris Jazz Festival offers free weekend concerts in the park (admission to park: €6).

Parc Floral, Paris

Through September 28

Candlelit château

Every Saturday through September 28, the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte and its grounds will be lit by 2,000 candles for the Soirées aux Chandelles. 

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Île-de-France
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