Fête de Vitry-sur-Seine
The Grand Annual Popular Festival of Vitry-sur-Seine — Les Fêtes du Lilas
About Fête de Vitry
Every spring, the City of Vitry-sur-Seine organizes Les Fêtes du Lilas, its grand, free, popular festival. For three days, the Parc and Stade Frédéric-Joliot-Curie, as well as many neighborhoods in the city, come alive: brass bands, musical floats, an associations village, youth activities, food trucks, concerts, a festive parade, and fireworks bring the residents of Vitry together for a friendly and intergenerational event.
A flagship event in the municipal calendar of Val-de-Marne, Les Fêtes du Lilas celebrate cultural diversity, youth, local community life, and the spirit of sharing that characterize this city of nearly 100,000 inhabitants.
Les Fêtes du Lilas: The Grand Popular Festival of Vitry-sur-Seine
Organized annually by the City of Vitry-sur-Seine, the second most populated commune in Val-de-Marne, Les Fêtes du Lilas constitute the flagship festive event of the municipal calendar. For three days, the city transforms into a vast space for celebration, culture, and encounters, with festivities that are entirely free and accessible to all audiences.
A Historic Festival at the Heart of Vitry's Identity
Inspired by the city's floral symbol (the lilac, long cultivated in the Vitry plain in the 19th century), this festival perpetuates an ancient popular tradition and reflects Vitry-sur-Seine's attachment to its market gardening roots, its dense community life, and its cultural diversity. Each neighborhood, each association, each school contributes to making these three days a truly participatory event.
A Rich Program Spread Across Several Sites
The festivities primarily unfold around the Parc and Stade Frédéric-Joliot-Curie, but also at the Parc des Chouettes and in the Commune-de-Paris district, the traditional starting point for Sunday's grand parade. On the program:
- Musical float and brass band touring the city from Friday
- Associations Village at Parc Joliot-Curie
- Youth Village with sports stands, games, and catering at Stade Joliot-Curie
- Early Childhood and Childhood Village with workshops, face painting, carousels, and stands
- Citizen picnics in the parks
- DJ nights and concerts for all ages
- Food trucks and on-site catering
- Festive parade (circus, batucada, street arts) on Sunday afternoon
- Traditional fireworks display on Friday evening at Stade Joliot-Curie
A Free, Popular, and Open-to-All Event
Admission is free for all activities. The event is part of the city's particularly rich cultural calendar, which also hosts MAC/VAL (Val-de-Marne Contemporary Art Museum), Théâtre Jean Vilar, and Kilowatt, and welcomes renowned events such as the Festival de Marne.
Fête de Vitry — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Fêtes du Lilas in Vitry-sur-Seine took place from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, under the banner of peace and with a particular focus on youth. Three days of popular and free festivities at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie park and stadium: brass band, musical float, associations village, youth and early childhood activities, food trucks, concerts, festive parade, and traditional fireworks display.
The Fêtes du Lilas 2026: three days of celebration under the banner of peace
The 2026 edition of the Fêtes du Lilas took place from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Vitry-sur-Seine. This edition was themed around peace and placed a particular emphasis on youth, with a packed and entirely free program spread around the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie park and stadium, the Parc des Chouettes, and the Commune-de-Paris district.
An innovation: a dedicated app
For the first time in 2026, a dedicated mobile application allowed visitors to locate activities, the route of the festive mini-train, and that of the grand Sunday parade in real time.
Three activity hubs
The festivities were spread across several thematic villages: associations village, youth village at the Joliot-Curie stadium, early childhood and childhood village at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie park and the Parc des Chouettes. Concerts, food truck catering, citizen picnics, and sports activities punctuated the three days.
Programme Fête de Vitry 2026
Friday, May 22, 2026
- 15:00 — Departure of the musical float with brass band and mascot (parade through the city)
- 18:30 — Opening of the village at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie stadium: food trucks and DJ entertainment
- 23:00 — Traditional fireworks display at the Joliot-Curie stadium
Saturday, May 23, 2026
- 10:00 – 17:30 — Early childhood and childhood village at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie park: face painting, workshops, rides, food stalls
- From 10:00 AM — Youth village at the Joliot-Curie stadium: association stands, sports games, catering
- 13:00 — Barbecue and citizen picnic at the Joliot-Curie park
- 13:30 – 17:30 — Childhood and pre-teen village at the Parc des Chouettes
- 20:00 — Youth concert at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie stadium
Sunday, May 24, 2026
- 10:00 – 19:00 — Associations village at the Frédéric-Joliot-Curie park
- From 2:00 PM — Youth village at the Joliot-Curie stadium
- 14:30 — Grand festive parade (circus, batucada, street arts) starting from the Commune-de-Paris district to Place de l'Église then the Joliot-Curie park
- 20:00 — Closing family concert, at the Joliot-Curie park
Highlights Fête de Vitry 2026
- 2026 edition themed around peace
- Special emphasis on youth
- First edition with a dedicated mobile application to follow activities in real time
- Traditional fireworks display on Friday evening
- Grand festive parade with circus, batucada, and street art themes on Sunday
- Free admission to all activities
Prices Fête de Vitry 2026
Practical information — Fête de Vitry
Practical Information
Main Locations
Parc and Stade Frédéric-Joliot-Curie, Parc des Chouettes, Commune-de-Paris district — 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine.
Access
- RER C: Vitry-sur-Seine station, then a 10-minute walk to Parc Joliot-Curie
- Metro: line 7 Mairie d'Ivry station, then bus; or line 14 Maison Blanche station then bus 183
- Bus: lines 180, 183, 185 and 323 — Mairie de Vitry / Hôtel de Ville stops
- Car: access via the N305 (avenue de la République) from Choisy-le-Roi or Ivry-sur-Seine; municipal parking nearby
Prices
Completely free admission for all activities.
Contact
Mairie de Vitry-sur-Seine — Hôtel de ville, 2 avenue Youri Gagarine, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine
Phone: 01 46 82 80 00
Official website of Les Fêtes du Lilas: fetesdulilas.vitry94.fr
City website: vitry94.fr
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Where does it take place — Fête de Vitry
Parc et stade Frédéric-Joliot-Curie
Parc Frédéric-Joliot-Curie, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine