Paris is bursting with summer energy this Saturday, August 23, and what better way to kick off the weekend than at Paris Plages. The iconic city beaches are popping up along the Seine, Canal Saint-Martin, and Bassin de la Villette, offering free swimming, Brazilian dance events, beach volleyball, and outdoor dancing. Lounge chairs line the water for soaking up the fabulous weather, and, for the first time in over 100 years, open-air swimming is officially allowed in the river according to Secrets of Paris. Festival Paris l’été continues transforming Paris’s rooftops, gardens, and chapels into stages for contemporary theater, dance, music, and circus shows. Headliners this year include All World Waacking, Kiddy Smile’s After Party, Lia Rodrigues’ Encantado, and the immersive circus piece Rouge Merveille. With both free and ticketed performances, there’s something for everyone, but the festival wraps up on August 24, so don’t miss out. For families, the Fête des Tuileries in the Tuileries Gardens is your carnival paradise—think Ferris wheel rides, log rides, fun houses, games, and mountains of cotton candy. It’s open every day from 11am till nearly midnight, according to Secrets of Paris, making it a perfect spot for evening adventures. Rock en Seine blasts into its final days this weekend at Domaine national de Saint-Cloud. Big acts like Chappell Roan, London Grammar, and Suki Waterhouse play headline sets, and there’s even the Mini Rock zone—a special area for kids ages 6 to 11 with workshops and music just for them, according to Sortiraparis. Music lovers can soak up classical candlelight concerts at the Sainte-Chapelle or Saint-Ephrem Church. On Saturday and Sunday, you can hear Chopin, Beethoven, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed in beautiful historic venues. Saint-Germain-des-Prés and La Madeleine churches also host brilliant evening performances. Paris Discovery Guide lists all the dates and venues if you want to book ahead. Cinema fans shouldn’t miss the Outdoor Cinema Festival at Parc de la Villette, ending August 23, showing classics on Europe’s largest inflatable screen. For something different, the Cinema on the Roof X SoFilm festival continues on the rooftop of La Machine du Moulin Rouge. According to Paris je t’aime, it’s the perfect spot to catch a movie under the stars. For something quirky, climb aboard the Food-Express at Ground Control in the 12th arrondissement, a free exhibition showing archival photos and artifacts from the history of railway dining—running through October per Parissecret. Jazz and opera fill the city’s parks and gardens. The Paris Jazz Festival at Parc Floral and Jazz à la Villette keep the music alive across multiple venues; Les Pestacles, also at Parc Floral, spotlights family-friendly musical shows through early September. The Arènes Lyriques and Jardin Shakespeare host open-air operas and plays under the summer sky, with both amateur and professional musicians taking the stage. Paris je t’aime notes these are bucket-list outdoor experiences. Whether listeners are seeking historic carousel rides at the Tuileries, canal-side hikes, paddleboard outings, or sun-drenched picnics, Paris is unmissable this weekend. Make sure to check event schedules for last-minute changes, grab tickets where needed, and savor every moment. Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
