Here are two handy lists: One-Day or Weekend Events (quick, special happenings) and All-July-Long Fun (activities that last most or all of the month). Everything is written in friendly, easy English so even a 12-year-old can plan a great Paris summer!
Table of Contents
ONE-DAY OR WEEKEND EVENTS
6 July — Carnaval Tropical de Paris, Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
Bright floats, steel-drum bands, and dancers in sparkling Caribbean costumes roll down the most famous street in Paris.
Music booms from morning into late afternoon.
Bring a small flag or shaker so you can join the beat!
Official website (in French)
11–14 July — Japan Expo, Paris Nord Villepinte
Paris-Nord Villepinte Expo Center (RER B, 30 min from downtown)
Four giant halls packed with anime, manga, video games, and cosplay.
You can watch live drawing shows, try Japanese snacks, and maybe meet your favorite voice actor.
Dressing up is totally encouraged!
13 & 14 July — Firemen’s Balls, fire stations all over Paris
Fire stations all over Paris
Each local station turns into an outdoor dance floor with live bands, snacks, and sparkling lights.
Families come early for games; teenagers stay late to dance.
Tickets at the gate usually cost just a few euros.
13 July — Peacock Society Festival, Parc de Choisy (13th district)
Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A huge electronic-music party with famous DJs mixing under colorful lasers.
There are food trucks, chill-out lawns, and plenty of space to show off your best dance moves until midnight.
14 July — Bastille Day Parade & Fireworks, Champs-Élysées + Eiffel Tower
Champs-Élysées, Champ-de-Mars & Eiffel Tower
In the morning, soldiers, planes, and marching bands fill the avenue.
Free concerts play all day on the Champ-de-Mars park.
The night ends with 11 p.m. fireworks bursting around the Eiffel Tower—bring a picnic blanket and look up!
14 July — Versailles Night Fountain Show, Palace of Versailles gardens
Palace of Versailles gardens
After sunset the palace fountains sparkle with colored lights while Baroque music drifts through the trees.
The finale is a fireworks display over the Grand Canal.
Wear comfy shoes—the gardens are huge.
18–20 July — Lollapalooza Paris, Longchamp Racecourse
Longchamp Racecourse
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Three full days of pop, rock, and hip-hop across several stages.
Between shows you can grab carnival snacks or ride a small ferris wheel.
Tickets sell fast, so plan ahead if you want to see the biggest headliners.
19 & 20 July — Opéra d’Été Free Shows, La Seine Musicale
La Seine Musicale, Île Seguin (on the river)
Sit by the river and listen to singers perform Donizetti and Don Quixote.
The outdoor stage means you can spread a blanket on the grass, snack, and watch boats glide by while the music plays.
27 July — Tour de France Finish, Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The world’s most famous bike race ends in Paris!
Riders zip around several sunset laps before the final sprint.
Cheer loudly, wave flags, and look for fun giveaways from the sponsor cars.
ALL JULY LONG
Garden Parvis, La Défense — June 26 to July 27
La Défense plaza, under the Grande Arche
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
A pop-up village with street food, live music, art workshops, and giant lawn games beneath the skyscrapers.
Entry is free, and there’s shade to relax while parents sip lemonade.
Official website (in French)
Paris Cauldron Evenings, Tuileries Garden — until Sept 14
Tuileries Garden pond
Every night a floating Olympic-style torch glows on the pond, lighting up the garden paths.
It’s magical to see after dinner, and you can grab an ice cream on the way.
Fête des Tuileries Funfair — until Aug 24
Tuileries Garden
Over 60 rides, from a towering ferris wheel to bumper cars.
Entry to the fairground is free; you pay only for the rides or cotton candy you want.
Paris Plages (City Beaches) — July 5 to Aug 31
Along the Seine & Bassin de la Villette
Real sand, deck chairs, sprinklers, and water sports appear along the Seine and at Bassin de la Villette.
Kids build sandcastles while grown-ups relax by the river.
Paris l’Été Festival — until Aug 1
Parks and plazas all over Paris
Free outdoor theater, circus tricks, and dance shows pop up in parks and squares all over the city.
Just check the daily schedule online and drop in.
L’Été du Canal, Canal de l’Ourcq — July 5 to Aug 10
Canal de l’Ourcq
Jump on a boat cruise, dance on floating stages, or slide down giant inflatables.
Weekends are busiest, so arrive early for the best spots.
Open-Air Cinema, Parc de la Villette — from July 23
Parc de la Villette
A huge movie screen stands on the grass; gates open in the evening for cartoons, comedies, and classics.
Bring a blanket or rent a deck chair for a small fee.
Paris Jazz Festival, Parc Floral de Vincennes — July 5, 13, 19
Parc Floral de Vincennes
Smooth afternoon concerts in a flower-filled park.
Pack a picnic, explore the butterfly house, then enjoy the music.
Official website (in French)
Fnac Live Festival, Hôtel-de-Ville Square — July 2 to 4
Square in front of Hôtel de Ville (city hall)
Free pop-rock shows outside city hall.
The square fills with cheering crowds, so come early if you want to stand close to the stage.
La Nuit aux Invalides, Les Invalides — from July 16
Les Invalides courtyard
A 360-degree sound-and-light story about French history is projected on the stone walls.
Headphones aren’t needed—the booming narration plays in the open air.
Summer Sales (Soldes) — June 25 to July 22
Shops all over Paris
Shops all over Paris cut prices on clothes, toys, and souvenirs—great time to grab a half-price hoodie or Eiffel Tower snow globe.
With a passion for travel and having visited over 50 countries, Dorian is eager to share his favorite spots and expert tips to help you explore Paris and France like a local.
