August in Paris: Summer Happenings

August 2, 2010  by Marisa Morrison

Marisa Morrison, blogger, francophile, and addict of all things hip and Parisian, fills us in on Paris must-do’s this month. PS: Be sure to check out her gorgeous blog, the Neon Tea Party!

Stefan

To most, August in Paris means one thing: les vacances! Each summer, following Bastille Day (July 14), Parisians ditch their usual city dwellings and head to country homes and seaside escapes for the remainder of the summer. This, however, does not result in Paris as a complete ghost town. Quite the contrary! August in Paris is a time for festivals and cultural events of all sorts, keeping tourists and remaining locals entertained and full of summer spirit. Whether you are interested in a high-energy music festival or a relaxing evening in the park, the City of Light has got you covered.

Fun and Games

Paris Plage – (e)Spry

Who said you have to ditch Paris for the South to soak up some rays on France’s best shores? From July 20 through August 20, the banks of Paris’ own Seine River and Bassin de la Villette will transform into veritable sandy beaches in this year’s 9th annual Paris Plages. Lie out on one of Paris Plage’s 800 lounge chairs under a real palm tree or partake in some beach-side activities, such as boating, badminton, pétanque, Tai Chi and dance classes. In association with Paris Plages, Fnac’s music festival, FnacIndétendances, hosted outside the Hôtel de Ville will feature over 30 free concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 5 p.m. from July 23rd through August 14th. The line-up includes Arno, Arpad Flynn, Beat Assailant, Lafayette, and Acid Washed. Click here to check out the full line up. For more information on Paris Plage’s plethora of activities and events, check out the official web page here.

What would summer be without a good old-fashioned carnival? Spanning June 26th to August 22nd, the Fête Foraine des Tuileries has all the classics: a carousel, Ferris wheel, games, sugary treats, and so much more. The best part? It all takes place right in the center of Paris in the city’s most renowned garden! The festival is open from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 11 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. Friday, Saturday and holidays. Entrance is free and attractions cost 2-10 € each per person.

Music

Indétendances Music Festival by Hotel de Ville – Flickr.Whisker

Every summer since 2003, Paris has played host to three-day music festival Rock en Seine at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. This year, Rock en Seine will take place on August 27, 28 and 29, and has a line-up that includes both rock-and-roll heavy hitters such as Blink 182 and Queens of the Stone Age, and cult-followed indie rockers like Beirut and LCD Soundsystem. Tickets are available through Rock en Seine’s official website and cost 99 euros for all three days or 45 euros for each individual day. Coming with kids? Drop them off at Rock en Seine’s Mini Rock, a supervised pint-sized children’s festival full of music and hands-on creativity where youngsters can frolic freely while their parents rock out. For the full line-up, practical information and tickets, click here.
If loud music and rowdy crowds aren’t your thing, or if you’re just looking for a cheap and entertaining way to spend an evening, then check out the Festival Classique au Vert, a series of classical music performances held at the Parc floral de Paris every Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. from August 7th to September 26th. Adult tickets cost 5€, tickets for those between the ages of 7 and 25 cost 2,50 € and admission is free for children under 7. For more information, visit Festival Classique au Vert’s website here.

Cinema

Cinéma en Plein Air will be hosting its 20th annual movie line-up at the Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement. The festival will show movies every evening at nightfall from July 17 through August 22 in the park’s Prairie du Triangle. Films range from American favorites Grease (August 22) and Juno (August 5) to French hits like L’Auberge Espagnole (July 30) and celebrated foreign flicks like Brazil’s City of God (August 3). For the full program listing, visit Cinéma en Plein Air’s official site. Movie showings are subject to cancellation due to inclimate weather. To find out about cancellations, dial 01 40 03 76 92 beginning 8 p.m. the night of the show.

Boules – The French Version of Bocce – Docfuscusager

Alternate outdoor movie-screening series Cinéma au Clair de Lune presents its films mostly every night from Thursday through Sunday at 9:30 p.m. The films will be hosted in various parks throughout the city, such as Parc Montsouris in the 14th and the Jardin des Champs-Elysées in the 8th. The line-up this year includes French films À bout de Souffle (August 5), Le Couturier de ces Dames (August 15) and La Science des Rêves (August 22). For more information, visit Cinéma au Clair de Lune’s official page here.

Related Links:

• Secrets of Paris’ August Parisian events calendar
• The Paris Kitchen’s favorite Paris restaurants open in August
• Eye Prefer Paris’ Eye Need To Do’s in August

Written by Marisa Morrison for the HiP Paris Blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

Tags: Art, august in paris, Beirut, Cinema, Cinema au clair de lune, cinema en plein air, Classical Music, Concert, Fair, Festival Classique au Vert, Festivals, Fete Foraine, Fnac, LCD Soundsystem, Music, paris plages, rock en seine
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