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Paris Events Calendar

Paris Events Calendar – July 2016

July 2, 2016
Heather Stimmler

NOTE: After a short period of cancellation, the Open-Air Cinema Festival is back on! Beginning Saturday, July 30, films will be shown according to schedule inside La Villette’s Grande Halle. 

Summer Festivals (en français)
The weekly metro magazine A Nous Paris has the entire French summer festival calendar online, with the best art, music and film festivals throughout France to download, in French only: Festivals on A Nous Paris

Summer on Les Berges du Seine 
There’s always something going on at Les Berges, the Left Bank pedestrian walkway along the Seine from the Musée d’Orsay to the Musée Quai Branly (7th), including concerts, art installations, workshops, kids events, ping pong, sports activities (zumba, yoga, climbing), etc. Check it out online here. 

July 1-September 3
After the rising heat in Paris drove locals into the parks to cool off last summer, the city has decided to allow us more access around the clock. Nine large Parisian parks and several smaller ones will be open 24/7 throughout the summer including Place des Vosges (4th), le Jardin des grands explorateurs (6th, just below Luxembourg), le Parc Kellermann (13th), le Parc Montsouris (14th), le parc André-Citroën (15th), le parc Martin-Luther-King (17th, next to Batignolles), le Parc des Buttes Chaumont (19th), le Square Séverine (20th) and les Pelouses d’Auteuil (16th).

Through July 14
See the intriguing photos of the women of Gaza in the exposition Wonderwomen: Women of Gaza at the Galerie Aiguillage in Les Frigos (the famous art squat in the 13th, rue des Frigos, metro Bibliothèque). The galerie is free and open to the public Mon-Fri  12:30-5pm, with a café space. Don’t miss this unique show! 

Through July 17
The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme is hosting a photo exposition “Lore Krüger: A Photographer in Exile, 1934-1944”. Considered one of the great photographers of the interwar period, she had an original look at street scenes, landscapes, and dramatic portraits. Closed Saturdays. 

Fridays through July 29
Streat Art (sic) is a food truck festival every Friday night at the Clignancourt Marché aux Puces, 6-11pm, with a bar and DJ for the festive atmosphere.  

Through July 31
The 22nd annual Paris Jazz Festival: come enjoy traditional Parisian and international jazz music in the Bois de Vincennes’s Parc Floral. Entrance to the park is 6 €.

Through August 21
The 30th annual Fête des Tuileries funfair with carnival rides at Tuileries Gardens starts today, free entry, rides with individual tickets. Plenty of food stands, too!

Through August 27
La Nuit aux Invalides is an impressive sound and light show in the courtyard of Invalides highlighting the monument’s history (Louis XIV, Napoléon, Charles De Gaulle), in English on Monday and Thursday nights. Tickets €18 (adult price). See the teaser video.

July 1-3
See some world class horses at the Paris Eiffel Jumping event this weekend, featuring the 40 best riders attempting to make it over the obstacles on the Bagatelle course in the Bois de Boulogne. The best part is that it’s 100% free and open to the public. 

July 2
Paris treasure hunt: both French and international visitors are invited to discover the “Paris of the Parisians”. This unusual way to explore the capital city will lead contestants down untrodden paths and through secret passages. Roadbooks will be available in French and English. Many prizes to win! This event is free.

July 2-3
Paris à la Nage is an international Open Swim Stars event that — historically in Paris — used to take place in the Seine from 1905 until just after WW2. Today it takes place in the Bassin de la Villette (top of the Canal, 19th) with both former swim champions and passionate amateur athletes competing in three distances, 1km, 2km and 5km. If you’d like to participate or be a volunteer for the event, check out their website. 

July 6-8
Paris celebrates Les Heures Heureuses (Happy Hours!) with participating restaurants and bars offering finger foods for just €2. Get your “passport” and the list of restaurants around Paris on the official website (en français) or at the Hôtel de Ville (Paris Rendez-Vous, 29 rue de Rivoli).  

July 10- September 3
The Popcorn Project film club is back this summer with its opening night featuring the 30th anniversary screening of The Highlander followed by the Euro finale, and as usual the “after” food party with a DJ. All for just €5! Reserve your seat in advance. 

July 13-14 Bastille Day
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!” Click here to read the defintitive guide to what to see and do in Paris on July 13th and 14th, what’s open, what’s not, how to get around, where the parties will be, and insider tips on being prepared: http://bit.ly/BastilleDayPAris

July 18 – August 21
Paris Plages: sand, beach trees, volley balls and bikinis — on the Seine! Along the Right Bank quays and Hôtel de Ville until August 21st. This year’s edition of the Paris Plages will feature many fun activities. Free entry, 9am-midnight. 

July 13-August 21 
The annual Open-Air Cinema Festival takes place Wed-Sun nights at the Parc de la Villette’s Triangle Prairie (metro Porte de Pantin), starting at sunset (around 10pm), free entry (deck chair rentals from 7:30pm). French and international films (all in VO with French subtitles), this year’s theme is “Dress Code”, with films that include Mustang, Rushmore, Gravity, Miami Vice, the original Batman, Start Trek, Full Metal Jacket, and films from Jacques Tati, Pedro Almodovar, and Tim Burton. Update: Beginning Saturday, July 30, all films will be shown inside La Villette’s Grande Halle. 

July 20-23
Choose between 31 free concerts at the Festival FNAC Live, featuring artists like Jungle, Louise Attaque, Feu! Chatterton, and Jain. Shows at the Scène du Parvis are open access. Shows at the Scène du Salon require an invitation that can be picked up for free at FNAC stores in Paris starting at noon on Wednesday, July 20. See the full program here.

July 24
Since 1975, the finish line for the Tour de France has been at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysées. Join the crowd of Parisians and tourists alike to see the winner of the race. Expected arrival time: 5:30pm.

Through October 1
Looking for an alternative to Paris Plage? Glazart (near Parc de la Villette in the 19th) has it’s own version, La Plage (the Beach), with free live music, techno parties, a huge sand “beach” with terrace, cocktail  bar, food trucks, food trucks, and even pétanque. See the entire schedule of concerts here.  

Through September 18
Fan of Ice Age, Horton, Robots and other animated films of Blue Sky Studios? Don’t miss the exhibition of their work in 800 drawings, paintings, and sculptures at the Musée Art Ludique, Docks en Seine, 34 quai d’Austerlitz, Paris 13th. Tckets €11-€16.50.

Through September 30
The Mémorial de la Shoah is hosting a free exhibition on Women in the Resistance. A fascinating look at the role of women — including many Jewish women — who resisted the Nazis during the occupation. It features the recent publication of historic graphic novels on the subject published by Editions Casterman. Although the Holocaust Memorial’s permanent collection is in English and French (and worth a visit itself if you are curious about the history of the Jewish people in France both before, during and after WWII), but the exhibit is in French with audio-guides in English. Free entry. 

Through October 1
Looking for an alternative to Paris Plage? Glazart (near Parc de la Villette in the 19th) has it’s own version, La Plage (the Beach), with free live music, techno parties, a huge sand “beach” with terrace, cocktail  bar, food trucks, food trucks, and even pétanque. See the entire schedule of concerts here. 

Through October 16
Looking for a strange and unique place to visit? Like trains and food trucks? Grand Train is the “event of the season”, in a disaffected train depot on the northern edge of the city, (26 rue Ordener, 18th, metro Marcadet-Poissoniers) with real historic trains, many different kinds of food-truck style food (pizza, Asian, gluten-free, Argentinean BBQ, etc), bars, a playground for kids and garden terraces to enjoy the sunshine. Free entry, stuff to buy, hipsters and their kids to compete with for the best spots. 

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