July Events in Paris: Paris Plages, Open Air Cinema & Tour de France

Crowds gather at the open-air cinema at La Villette park in July in Paris.

July means the beginning of les vacances in Paris which the city commemorates by opening of Paris Plages. This temporary beachfront along the Seine and the canal at La Villette hosts events and activities for adults and children from July 8 to September 3.

HiP Paris Blog rounds up what's on in Paris this July like Paris Plages, makeshift sandy beaches built along the River Seine for summer.

ErasmusOfParis

Summer in the city also brings a variety of outdoor festivals celebrating cinema, music, and more. Festival Fnac Live is a free music festival that takes place in front of the Paris City Hall from July 5 to July 7. This year the bill includes celebrated artists including Ibeyi and Dominique A as well as a variety of up and coming acts. Lollapalooza returns to Paris in July for two days of live music and outdoor fun. This year the lineup includes Depeche Mode, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Killers.

Above: FNAC Live. Centre: Fernando García Redondo. Bottom: Lollapalooza Paris.

The Open Air Cinema Festival at La Villette, which takes place from July 20 to August 20, consistently brings quality and campy movies to the big screen. This year’s theme is “Shall we sing?” and the music inspired lineup includes indie favorites Frances Ha and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as well as Hollywood hits like La La Land and French classics including Jules et Jim.

In summer, crowds gather at the open-air cinema at La Villette park in July in Paris.

Alain Goustard / Yvan Grubski

Festival les Pestacles continues in July, bringing a selection of activities, shows, and workshops for kids every Wednesday in the Parc Floral in the Bois de Vincennes. Children will also enjoy the L’été des P’tits Futés a which features performances for children and starts on July 9.

There are plenty of events on in Paris in July like open-air cinema screenings (left) and events for children (right).

A little girl in a white dress, blowing on a dandelion in summer.

July also brings the inauguration of the Musée Yves-Saint-Laurent as well as the exhibition Chagall – Malévitch – El Lissitzky at the Centre Pompidou (until 16 July).

Above: Damien Roué. Below: Marc Chagall.

Fans of cycling will want to find a spot at the finish line on July 29 when the Tour de France comes to an end in a final sprint down the Champs Elysées.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris / Yann

If you’re in Paris on July 14 you must celebrate the Fête Nationale or Bastille Day for Anglophones. Take part in the annual tradition of heading towards the Seine and finding a spot to enjoy the magnificent fireworks display that the city sponsors every year. If you’re looking to avoid crowds, reserve your spot on Le Galion, this pirate ship docked on the Seine is hosting an evening of drinks, music, and dancing to celebrate the 14th.

HiP Paris Blog rounds up what's on in Paris this July like Bastille Day fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.

Related Links

The 1000m2 of terrace at La Felicità is the perfect summer hang out spot.
For what to do in Paris in July and August, head over to the Paris Tourist Office.
TimeOut gives you the top 50 best things to do in Paris this summer.

Written by Emily Dilling for HiP Paris. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany, Umbria or Liguria? Check out Haven In.

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Emily Dilling

Emily Dilling is a France based writer and author of My Paris Market Cookbook: A Culinary Tour of French Flavors and Seasonal Recipes. In 2005 Emily moved to Paris from her native California and began exploring the cities markets, restaurants, and cafés. In 2010 she founded the blog Paris Paysanne, where she writes about her favorite addresses and artisans in the city. Emily currently lives in the Loir-et-Cher region of France, where she writes and works in the grapevines.