Paris: Fete de la Musique, June 21st
Ok, it’s no secret. We love free music. And, the annual Fete de la Musique in Paris is one of the best ways to see tons of musical acts, bands, and performers without paying a euro cent.
The fete, which got its start in 1982, is a “come one, come all” sort of affair. Anyone can perform throughout the 24-hour event, where you can expect to see professional and famous musicians rubbing shoulders with up-and-coming artists. Heck, if you’ve got a sousaphone gathering dust, get it out!
The best part? The acts take stage all over the city. That means you can hear guitar riffs under cover of an old train station or get your groove on Seine-side.
The Fete happens on June 21st, summer solstice, a Saturday. Public transport is always discounted to allow for all day location hopping, but we recommend grabbing a good map and just hoofing it.
A few acts to follow:
For club style beats and disco dancing, hit up Biz’Art at the Quai de Valmy or head to Le Batofar, where you can see DJ Lord Finesse.
Classical music aficionados and opera goers will love Pic’Pulse at Notre Dame des Champs or the line-up planned at the Musee de la Franc Maconnerie.
Nearby hotels:
- Hotel Bellevue et du Chariot, Doubles €68
- Hotel Rivoli, Doubles €40-50
- Grand Hotel Jeanne d’Arc: Doubles €84-97
- Hippodrome Montmartre: Doubles €75-86
- Hotel du Pre, Doubles €118-130
For more information on “Fete” in English, go here.
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Wow! This is sure to be a unique event for any and all travelers! The best part is that the event takes place all around the city, instead of just one location. Any idea how this event got its start? Seems to me to be a great way to spend a Saturday in France — taking tons of pictures, watching performances, and grabbing snacks along the way…definitely an exciting story to retell about your traveling adventures overseas!