Solidays at the Longchamp racecourse, gypsy jazz at the Château de Fontainebleau, electro inside an Essonne castle: twelve outings to roam the Paris region this weekend.
What's on around Paris this weekend of June 27-28? Late June marks the real start of the region's festive summer, and the Paris area is overflowing with options. The weekend's heavyweight is Solidays, which gathers more than 200,000 people at the Longchamp racecourse in a single surge of music and solidarity. But the outer ring won't be upstaged: jazz settles in at the Château de Fontainebleau with the Festival Django Reinhardt, France's oldest funfair reopens at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and an Essonne castle turns into an electronic theatre. Our pick of the week goes to the formats that break the mould: the 2,000-candle night at Vaux-le-Vicomte, the Portuguese-language festival in Herblay and the Franco-American music under the trees of Thiais. Twelve outings to roam the region, from racecourse to canal.
Solidays in Paris: three days of music and solidarity at Longchamp
You can't talk about this weekend without starting with Solidays, from Friday June 26 to Sunday June 28 at the Paris-Longchamp racecourse. Created in 1999 by the Solidarité Sida association, this festival has become one of summer's biggest gatherings: more than 200,000 festival-goers crowd onto the Bois de Boulogne lawn each year. The line-up spans every genre — rap, pop, electro, reggae, rock — across several stages, from mid-afternoon into the heart of the night. But Solidays is more than a poster: every ticket funds the fight against AIDS, and the associative village is an integral part of the experience. Good-natured atmosphere, a young and mixed crowd, a commitment worn proudly. It's the emblematic date of the last weekend of June, reachable by public transport from all over Paris. Booking is essential; weekend passes sell fast.
Festival Django Reinhardt in Fontainebleau: gypsy jazz at the foot of the château
The Festival Django Reinhardt runs from June 25 to 28 on the Bois d'Hyver meadow, in the heart of the Château de Fontainebleau park. Created in 1968 in Samois-sur-Seine, the village where the legendary gypsy guitarist made his home, it is one of France's oldest and most prestigious jazz festivals. Each year, more than thirty concerts pay tribute to Django's legacy: gypsy jazz of course, but also swing, contemporary gypsy jazz and unexpected crossovers, carried by international stars and guitar virtuosos. The majestic setting of the imperial estate is part of the pleasure. The final weekend lands in the festival's full season, just past the solstice. Combine it with a visit to the château and its gardens. Active ticketing, a crowd of connoisseurs and families.
Fête des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye: France's oldest funfair opens
The Fête des Loges opens its lanes on Friday June 26 in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest, for two months of festivities until mid-August. Established in 1652 around the cult of Saint Fiacre, it is France's oldest funfair and one of the Paris region's most emblematic summer events. More than 200 attractions, thrill rides, treat stands and restaurants set up under the trees, to the delight of three million visitors across the season. Entry is free; you pay per ride. It's the family outing par excellence, blending fairground tradition and modern thrills. This opening weekend is the chance to enjoy the atmosphere before the July crowds. Easy access via the RER A, Saint-Germain-en-Laye station, then a few minutes toward the forest.
Maisons-Laffitte Jazz Festival: the jazz finale in the castle park
The Maisons-Laffitte Jazz Festival closes its edition on Sunday June 28, after ten days of concerts that began on the 19th. Founded in 2004, over twenty years it has become one of the most respected jazz dates in the region. The sumptuous park of the Château de Maisons — a masterpiece by François Mansart — and the Ancienne Église host more than 80 concerts bringing together internationally renowned artists and ensembles. The setting is part of the experience: hearing a standard beneath the centuries-old trees of a classical estate changes everything. The programme alternates big names and discoveries, from chamber jazz to more electric line-ups. This final weekend often concentrates the headliners and closing concerts. Twenty minutes from central Paris on the RER A, it's a chance to pair heritage and live music in the western Paris area.
Château Perché Festival in Bouville: electro inside a historic castle
The Château Perché Festival unfolds from June 25 to July 6, and its first weekend is in full swing on June 27-28. Born in 2015 from the imagination of a band of enthusiasts, it has become one of Europe's most original electronic events. The concept: take over a historic castle and create a total experience blending electronic music, performing arts, visual installations and uninhibited costumes. Travelling by nature, the festival cultivates a dreamlike, theatrical world that sets it apart from conventional raves. The programme strings together sharp DJ sets, performances and immersive set designs into the early hours. It's an outing for seasoned fans and lovers of out-of-the-ordinary experiences, in an Essonne setting that's a world away from the concert hall. Booking advised, costumes strongly encouraged.
Garden Parvis in Puteaux: music and street food on the La Défense esplanade
The Garden Parvis festival takes over the La Défense esplanade from June 18 to July 30, and this weekend lands in its full season. Each summer, this free event transforms the business district's mineral forecourt into a sprawling green stage: live concerts, DJ sets, street food and activities follow one another in a relaxed, extended-after-work mood. The line-up backs emerging artists as much as established names, with pop, electro and urban music to the fore. It's a cheerful reversal: take Europe's most vertical district and fill it with deckchairs, food trucks and music into the evening. Direct access by the RER A and metro, ideal for a hassle-free Saturday. A good option for western-Paris audiences who want to go out without planning a thing.
Franco-American Music Festival in Thiais: jazz and swing at the open-air theatre
The Franco-American Music Festival in Thiais offers its two evenings on Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27, at the open-air theatre of the Parc de l'Europe. Created in 2004, it celebrates each summer the musical exchanges between France and the United States. Jazz, film music, gospel, swing, musical theatre and variety cross paths in the open air in a festive, warm atmosphere. The green theatre, tucked into the park's foliage, offers an intimate setting away from the big crowds. It's a neighbourhood event, free and convivial, ideal for a summer evening with family or friends in the Val-de-Marne. The programme brings the American repertoire and French performers into dialogue, with that extra soul of open-air concerts. A well-honed local gem, to discover before nightfall.
Les Magnytudes in Magny-le-Hongre: the free music party at the gates of Disney
Les Magnytudes animate the Place de l'Église in Magny-le-Hongre on Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27. Since 2016, this free open-air festival turns this Seine-et-Marne town, a neighbour of Disneyland Paris, into a festive stage each late June. The line-up is deliberately eclectic: from rock to hip-hop, folk to electro, Balkan brass bands to soul, with activities for the whole family. The spirit is resolutely friendly and grassroots, on a village scale, with no ticketing or barriers. It's the kind of event that keeps the local scene alive while welcoming more established artists across two days. A gem for discovering festive Seine-et-Marne beyond its major tourist sites. Easy access by RER A and bus, food on site, relaxed atmosphere into the evening.
Festival do Emigrante in Herblay: Portuguese-language music and traditions for a weekend
The Festival do Emigrante gathers the Portuguese-speaking community of the Paris region on Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28, at the Stade des Beauregards in Herblay-sur-Seine. Organised by the S&Events association, it brings together thousands of festival-goers each year for a weekend of music, gastronomy and traditions from Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries. On the bill: fado concerts, popular music, folk dances, culinary specialities and craft stands in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. It's one of the great gatherings of the region's Lusophone diaspora, open to anyone curious about this culture. A chance to taste a pastel de nata between two concerts, discover live fado and feel the pulse of Val-d'Oise's Portuguese traditions. Hearty food, festive mood, accessible entry.
Diver'stival in Éragny: circus, hip-hop and street arts across the town
The Diver'stival opens on Saturday June 27 in Éragny-sur-Oise, for a week of shows until July 4. Organised each year by the town, this festival turns the streets into an open-air artistic stage: theatre, contemporary circus, magic, hip-hop dance, concerts and street shows take over the various neighbourhoods and public spaces. Free and open to all, it favours closeness and access to culture for residents and visitors alike. It's a fine gem for anyone wanting to discover street arts and circus differently, as close as possible to the audience, with no ticketing. This first weekend launches the festivities in the Val-d'Oise with a family-friendly, eclectic programme. Ideal for a relaxed and varied outing, to discover while wandering through the town.
Candlelit Evenings of Vaux-le-Vicomte: 2,000 candles at the château
The Candlelit Evenings of Vaux-le-Vicomte light up the château and its gardens on Saturday June 27, as on every summer Saturday. Since 1980, this 17th-century masterpiece — birthplace of the French formal garden designed by André Le Nôtre — glows at nightfall: 2,000 candles trace the paths and façades, the fountains play at dusk and a timeless atmosphere settles in. You wander freely through the park by candlelight, dine by candle and wait for the closing fireworks. The setting is unmatched in the Paris region: few monuments offer such a nocturnal staging. Booking advised, especially for dinner. An hour from Paris, it's the romantic escape of the weekend, to be savoured slowly right up to the pyrotechnic finale.
Festival Les Aiguilleurs in Sèvres: electro, dub and alternative music in the open air
The Festival Les Aiguilleurs takes place on Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27 on Rue des Bruyères in Sèvres. Organised by the SUM association, this gathering of electronic, dub and alternative music spreads several open-air stages across the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. The eclectic line-up mixes emerging artists and more established names in a convivial, solidarity-minded and festive atmosphere, with pay-what-you-can pricing that makes it accessible to all. It's a gem for anyone seeking an alternative to the big paying festivals, in an independent, grassroots spirit. Sound systems, deep bass and collective energy pace these two evenings on the edge of Paris. A human-scale, generous format, ideal for discovering demanding electronic scenes without breaking the bank. Easy access by public transport from south-western Paris.
Worth a mention too
- Festival d'Auvers-sur-Oise (95): this prestigious classical music festival continues its season until September in the finest monuments of Val-d'Oise, on Van Gogh's home ground.
- Paris Banlieues Tango (94): the great Argentine tango festival continues its milongas and concerts across some thirty Paris-region venues, until July 19.
For a wider sweep across France this weekend, head to our full weekend agenda. Have a great festive weekend in the Paris region.
