Festivals & Celebrations
Carnival Tropical de Paris - 7th July
Celebrate the coming of summer at the Carnival Tropical de Paris on the first weekend of July! The Champs-Elysées will be transformed by traditional dance and live music from all over France as well as Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and Réunion. Join the party on 7th July!
Bastille Day - 14th July
Always a big celebration in France, le quatorze juillet (or Bastille Day in other parts of the world) marks a grand annual event of military parades, parties, firework displays, revelry and concerts. Froma round 10am the preparations for the Military Parade begin with the arrival of the President at the Arc de Triomphe - then follows an amazing aircraft flyover, followed by the military parade! Quite the spectacle. The fireworks begin at around 11pm at the Eiffel Tower, following a free 9pm concert. Let the celebrations begin!
The Fireman's Ball - Bal de Pompiers, 13th & 14th July
Extending Bastille Day into a kind of weekend-long festival, the Fireman's Ball is an annual party like no other, when the fire stations of the city throw open their doors and welcome revellers until the small hours of the morning. The party takes place on the 13th and 14th July, so get your glad rags on and prepare to dance the night away with the pompiers!
Summer Sensations
Paris Plages
The annual summer celebration of Paris Plages just seems to get better every year, so we already can't wait for the 2019 edition! Deckchairs and parasols line the banks of the Seine, the Bassin de la Villette opens for swimmers to the small public pool in the canal, games and activities are available for kids and little beach huts pop up selling drinks, food and ice cream! Wander from the Pont Neuf to the Louvre, or take to the water on a kayak or pedal boat on the Canal de l'Ourq!
Summer Sales
Throughout July is the time to pick up a bargain in Paris as the summer sales, as further reductions will be seen this month since the start of the sales in late June. Sales will be taking place in stores across the city, as this is one of just two official sales seasons in France - making it a shopping date for your diary!
Tour de France, 28th July
Back for its 106th edition, the Tour de France will once again storm up the Champs Elysées to cheering crowds - this year on the 28th July! Cycle enthusiasts can soak up the atmosphere at this historic annual event and cheer on that yellow jersey!
Cinema en Plein Air at Parc de la Villette
Culture Vultures
Open Air Cinema, La Villette, 17th July - 18th August
One of the best things you can do on a summer evening is catch an outdoor film at Parc La Villette, where you can set up a picnic blanket or rent a deckchair and blanket, get cosy and watch some incredible films throughout the summer from 22 July to the 23 August. This year that includes Blade Runner 2049, Jules et Jim, Ready Player One, Erin Brockovich, and the original Bladerunner - amongst many many others! Find the full official list here
Paris Quartier d'Été, 12th July - 3rd August
In 34 locations this year, the Paris l'été festival returns in 2019 for a whole host of events from theatre and dance to concerts and circus acts - most of which are absolutely free! Expect around 70 different performances during 12th July - 3rd August. You'll find the official day by day programme on the official website here.
