Fête des Lilas

The Fête des Lilas: The Living Heritage of Guinguettes

The town of Lilas (93260) was born from celebration. In the 19th century, the first inhabitants were attracted by the country dances, guinguettes, and cabarets that lined the paths at the gates of Paris. This founding festive identity has remained at the heart of the Lilas spirit and is perpetuated every summer through the Town Festival.

The Town Festival: A Reimagined Popular Tradition

The Town Festival is the town's major summer event, organized every summer on the Garde-Chasse esplanade and along Avenue Waldeck-Rousseau. In 2025, this event took place on Sunday, July 6th, from 4 PM to 10 PM. The program combines festive tradition and modernity, with musical and dance performances that evoke the guinguettes of yesteryear while celebrating today's cultural diversity.

The typical program includes an offbeat karaoke to kick things off, a children's dance hosted by a DJ duo, a period of guinguette-style dancing that invites residents to rediscover the pleasures of popular dances, and in the evening, an electric DJ set to close the day on the dance floor.

A Festive Culinary Space

Alongside the musical entertainment, a true culinary space is set up on Avenue Waldeck-Rousseau, between the town hall and the theater. Food trucks, artisanal ice cream vendors, refreshment stands, and sweet treat stalls delight the taste buds of young and old throughout the afternoon, in a friendly fairground atmosphere.

Fête de la Musique: Parks as Stages

On June 21st, the Fête de la Musique unfolds in the green setting of Parc Lucie Aubrac. An eclectic stage hosts artists of various styles — world music, blues, rock, rap — and a DJ set concludes the evening. This free musical celebration attracts several thousand spectators each year.

Fêtes aux Sentes and Other Events

Les Lilas enriches its festive calendar with the Fêtes aux Sentes, a convivial celebration in the historic alleys of the old village, and the National Day on July 14th. The Comité des fêtes lilasien, a dynamic and historic association, is the driving force behind this festive life that makes Les Lilas an endearing and vibrant town.