Paris Events
Here’s a list of things to do in Paris this summer.
PARIS SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS
Paris Jazz Festival, Saturdays & Sundays, June 12 through August 1
The Paris Jazz Festival takes place every Saturday and Sunday at the Parc Floral at Bois de Vincennes. The festival itself is free, but the park charges 5 euros to enter. Pack a blanket and a picnic lunch, and listen to jazz from a shady spot near one of the many gardens.
Chopin Festival, June 20-July 14, 2010
Fete de la Musique, June 21, annually
Paris Hip Hop Festival, June 22-July 4
Solidays, June 26-28, 2010
Days Off, July 2-10
FNAC Indetendances, July 23-August 17
The French music chain FNAC puts on free concerts on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the steps of Hotel de Ville.
Rock en Seine, August 27-29
Jazz a la Villette, August 29-Sept. 12, 2010
PARIS FILM EVENTS
Late Openings on Tuesdays at the Musee de l’arme (aka Hotel Invalides), April through September, 6-9 pm.
Watch war-related movies (Platoon, etc.) and discuss them afterward with an expert in American cinema. On Tuesdays Napoleon’s tomb and a rotating schedule of other museum sections stay open late for visitors. Free with reservations.
Paris Cinema Festival, July 3-13, 2010, various locations.
Premieres and film competitions, and a special spotlight on the films of Japan.
Monuments and Cinema, June 2, 2010 through February 13, 2011.
Watch free movies at French national monuments including the Pantheon and the Cathedral St. Denis.
Outdoor Cinema (Cinema en plein air) at Parc de Villette, July 17- August 22.
This year’s theme is “youth,” and screenings include the films Grease and Juno.
Cinema by Moonlight, (Cinema au Clair de lune) – August 4-22, 2010.
13 outdoor films in various locations in Paris.
PARIS MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, & ARTS EVENTS
Paris d’amour photo exhibition at Hotel de Ville, through July 31.
See photos by Gerard Ufferas of Parisians and their wedding celebrations. FREE, and really cool!
Edvard Munch or the Anti-Scream is a retrospective of the Norwegian painter at the Pinacotheque de Paris, extended through August 8, 2010. See Munch’s work in Paris for the first time in 20 years. The exhibition includes over 150 works.
Willy Ronis photography exhibition, Monnaie de Paris, through August 20, 2010
Yves Saint Laurent retrospective at Petit Palais, through August 29,2010.
Dynasty exhibition, Palais de Tokyo and Museum of Modern Art, through September, 5, 2010.
MuseoGames at the Arts et Metiers museum. Through Nov. 7, 2010.
Discover the history of video games and see 300 rare video game-related items.
La Belle Epoque de Jules Cheret exhibition at Decorative Arts Museum (Les Arts Decoratif), through November 7.
See the Belle Epoque ads and posters of Jules Cheret.
Archi et BD (Architecture and Comic Strips), at the Cite de l’architecture et du patromoine (Architecture Museum), through Nov. 28.
An exhibition exploring the relationship between comics and city architecture.
PARIS FESTIVALS
Foire St. Germain Festival, various venues, May 21-July 4
Includes an art exhibit, book fairs, theatre performances, and a Night of Photography.
Festival de l’eau (Water Festival), June 12 and 13.
Various events celebrating water, including a Water Circus.
Festival Onze Bouge, June 5 through June 14, 2010
Multiidisciplinary arts festival.
Paris en Toutes Lettres, June 9-13
Citywide literary festival.
Shakespeare and Company’s Festival and Co, a Politics and Fiction festival, June 18-20, 2010
Gay Pride Paris, June 26, 2010.
Fete des Tuileries, June 26 through August 22
Annual summer carnival in the Tuileries Gardens. Includes a Jazz Manouche festival July 13 and 14, celebrating the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt.
Carnaval Tropical de Paris (Tropical Carnival), Saturday, July 3, 2010 at Place de la Nation
More than 2000 dancers, 30 masquerade groups with carnival costumes.
Paris Summer Neighborhood Festival, (Le Festival Paris Quartier d’ete), events in various locations, July 14 through August 15.
PARIS PARKS & GARDENS
Le Concours International de Roses, June 18 through September 26
See over 10,000 plants and 1200 varieties of roses in Bois de Boulogne at the Parc de Bagatelle rose garden, the oldest rose garden in France.
OTHER PARIS EVENTS
Paris Summer Sales (Soldes l’ete)
Bastille Day, July 14, annually
Paris Plages, July 20 through Aug. 20
An urban beach is constructed each summer along the Seine River, with sports and cultural events.
Grandes Eaux Musicales and Grandes Eaux Musicales Nocturnes at the Palace of Versailles, weekends April 3 through October 31. Night shows on Saturdays, June 19 through August 28.
Musical fountain show in the gardens of Versailles. The night show includes fireworks and performers.
