Summer festivals in Parisian style

Experience summer in style and off the beaten track, with these exciting open-air festivals in Paris - from concerts in parks and gardens, to outdoor big-screen cinema evenings, there’s something to suit every taste.

PARIS QUARTIER D’ETE

For the 20th anniversary of the event, there will be 33 sites, 35 shows, 115 performances and 260 artists. The festival “Paris quartier d’été” seeks to bring events to a public that would not normally go to concert or opera performances. Dance, music, theatre, circus, storytelling and other events take place in parks, gardens, on avenues, at monuments and other outdoor venues.

From July 15 to August 9 - quartierdete.com

PARIS PLAGE

Paris Plages, "Paris Beaches", takes place on two Parisian sites: voie Georges Pompidou in Paris 4th district and from the Bassin la Villette to Stalingrad in Paris 19th district. Paris Plages is all about sandy beaches, deckchairs, ice cream sellers, and free concerts every day on the river banks.

From July 20 to August 20 - paris.fr/portail/english/

FESTIVAL JEUNES TALENTS

Fans of classical music, vocal and instrumental can attend the 9th edition of the European festival of young talents. The exceptional Hôtel de Soubise, in the Marais, will be staging outdoor concerts given by 53 young musicians from all over Europe and other parts of the world, from the major conservatoires. An event not to be missed.

From July 10 to July 30 - jeunes-talents.org

PARIS JAZZ FESTIVAL

One of the highpoints of summer in Paris, the Jazz Festival takes place in the gardens of the Parc Floral, to the east of Paris, in the Bois de Vincennes. This year the festivities will extend beyond the usual jazz concerts venues with improvised concerts within the park: a “Clarière des impros” will bring musicians and the public together for improvisation workshops while the “Jardinophone” will propose a series of instrument crafting workshops on the theme of nature.

From June 6 to July 26 - parisjazzfestival2009.net

JAZZ A LA VILLETTE

Some 200 artists and 50 groups are expected for this event in the vast La Villette park in the north of Paris. Among the line-up: Hank Jones, Ahmad Jamal, Ornette Coleman, Ron Carter, Yael Naim and John Zorn.

From September 1 to September 13 - jazzalavillette.com