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
September 10-15
Tribal art walk
Dozens of galleries put on special shows of world art for Parcours des Mondes.
Saint Germain des Prés, Paris
September 11-15
Feminist family festival
The WeToo Festival is a “festive, familial and political experience” with performances and talks for children, teenagers and adults.
Various locations, Pantin & Aubervilli
September 13-15
Free amusements in historic Marais sites
The Festival Les Traversées du Marais brings everything from art installations to cooking classes, readings and dance performances to the monuments, courtyards and gardens of the Marais.
Various locations, Paris
September 20-22
Meet the press
During the Festival du Monde, the prestigious daily newspaper Le Monde, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, opens its doors to the public to meet its journalists, visit its facilities and attend workshops and debates. Concerts and DJ sets will be held on the building’s forecourt.
Le Monde headquarters, Paris
September 21-22
Heritage days
The doors to normally closed monuments and other buildings open to the public for the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine.
Various locations, 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
September 28-30
Street food
To soak up the alcohol, the Cocktail Street festival will welcome food stands from the Food Market.