Something for the Summer

Paris Weekends is taking a holiday for the summer, so rather than the weekly recommendations, you will find here a list of the principal activities on offer in Paris this July and August.


Paris Plages

The original Paris Plage celebrates its 10th birthday this year. In the last couple of years it has also spread out to the Basin de la Villette which offers a more laid back atmosphere and more emphasis on water sports. The event runs from July 21st to August 21st, and you'll find full details on all activities here.


Of course, this initiative has also lead to imitators around the world, some of which can be found in the neighbouring towns of Paris. Two examples this summer:


Puteaux Plage from July 2nd - August 15th
Lutece Plage at the Parc Asterix!


A 'plage' is not just somewhere to go when the sun shines though, but also at night. La Plage at the Glaz'art bar near La Villette offers concerts, DJ sets and petanque throughout the summer.


Cinema under the stars

The main outdoor cinema festival is held each year in the La Villette park. This year's theme is 'D'une rue à l'autre' (from one street to another), and runs from 19th July to August 21st. The full programme can be found here.

The Cinema au Clair de lune festival organised by the Forum des Images also aims to get people out watching films under the stars (or streetlights) from August 3rd - 21st. The full programme can be found here.


The 11th arrondissement will also host some outdoor film shows, but you'll need to bring your own chair!


If you're outside Paris, chances are you might find a temporary open air cinema on your route. The Cinesites organisation tries to couple heritage sites with suitable films, and there are plenty of interesting combinations planned this summer!

Summer bars and venues
Several places in and around Paris dress themselves up (or down) for summer, putting on a series of special events. Here is a selection of some of the most interesting:

La Bellevilloise: La Grande Prairie is a 500m2 loft with artificial grass, fake flowers and deckchairs, but also a cool venue with cocktail bars, massages and events scheduled throughout the summer.

Le Petit Bain: The newest arrival alongside the Seine, a floating wooden box offering a casual restaurant and Latino themed music throughout the summer.

Les vendredis de Longchamp: Each Friday evening, the Longchamp racecourse turns into a spectacular outdoor nightclub!

Culture
Several cultural festivals are organised in Paris during the summer.

Paris Quartier d'Ete: The biggest festival of the summer, offering hundreds of events in a wide variety of locations in and around Paris, from July 14th to August 9th.

BitterSweet (Paradise): Six venues, ten days, fifty artists. A celebration of indypop music from July 14th - 23rd. One of the planned events will also combine music with knitting!

Music in the park: The Parc Floral remains one of the best places to chill out at weekends throughout the summer. The jazz festival runs until July 31st, when the Classique au Vert classical music festival takes over (until September 25th)