Fête de la Musique 21st June
Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for culture, the Fête de la Musique is held in more than hundred countries in Europe and around the world. It takes place every 21st June, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
Free music concerts throughout Paris – the musicians are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. Most concerts take place in open air areas such as streets and parks, public buildings like museums, train stations and castles, hospitals and prisons. There are various types of performance from orchestra, opera, choral to rock, hip hop, Jazz, classic and more.
For more details on venues and performances check out the official Fete de la musique website or just wander round Paris’s streets and see what’s going on
Open Air Theatre at the Bois de Boulogne – June to September
Every year from June to September plays are performed at the lovely Jardins Shakespeare in Paris’s Bois de Bolougne believed to be one of the most beautiful open air theatres in the world. Five miniature gardens inspired by Shakespeare’s plays – Midsummer’s Night Dream, As you Like it, The Tempest, Hamlet and Macbeth host a theatrical performance. On a balmy summer’s night you can’t beat a picnic and a bottle of chilled wine in the park watching live performances with a varied programme sometimes in English but mostly in French. The Jardins Shakespeare website is still under construction but you can call 01 40 19 95 33 for details.
Paris Jazz Festival 9 June to 29 July
Every year Paris hosts a jazz festival in the beautiful Parc Floral taking place each weekend from 9 june to the end of July. All the concerts take place in the afternoons and there is a superb programme for 2012 – an ideal opportunity to pack a picnic and relax in lovely surroundings. The Parc entry fee of €5.00 covers the fee but places are limited to 1500 so make sure you get there early to get a seat – details of the programme on the Paris Jazz Festival website.
Solidays 22-24 June
Orginally set up as a one off charity event to support those with Aids, Solidays has grown each year in popularity and is held at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris. More than 150,000 festival goers are expected to attend the concerts with some big names. The organisers offer camping on site and the tickets start from €39 for a day pass details on the Solidays website.
