The parks of Paris aren’t only for sunbathing and leisurely strolls – for the remainder of this summer, and even extending into autumn, the parks of Paris will be putting on a show! Various small concerts will be taking place in the kiosques of Parisian parks, which are green-painted iron rotundas or gazebos that are the perfect stage for classical ensembles, brass bands and choirs.
Since there isn’t much information out there in English, we’ve gathered together and translated the concerts we think our guests would be most interested in, especially for our guests staying in one of our 6th or 7th arrondissement apartment rentals!
All of these concerts are completely free of charge, so grab some sandwiches from the boulangerie and go have yourself a musical picnic!
Free Concerts in the Jardin du Luxembourg
Find this kiosque on the upper eastern side of the Jardin du Luxembourg, just below the Fontaine Medicis. You can still hear the music from down near the central lawn and fountain if you prefer a more wide-open view of the flowerbeds, which are a delightful shade of pink this year!
Friday August 5th, 6:00 – 7:30pm
- Genre: World Music/Jazz
- Performer: Naissam Jalal and Rhythms of Resistance
Sunday August 7th, 2:00 – 5:30pm
- Genre: Dancing and Music from the Belle Époque, 1900
- Performer: Carnets de Bals
Monday August 15th, 5:00 – 5:30pm
- Genre: Musical Theatre
- Performer: Westholme School Choir
Saturday August 20th, 3:00 – 4:00pm
- Genre: Light Music/Easy Listening
- Performer: Otley Brass Band
Saturday August 27th, 4:30 – 6:00pm
- Genre: Classical
- Performer: Orchestres de Jeunes Alfred Loewenguth
Free Concerts in the Champs de Mars
The Champs de Mars is very large, but you’ll find its music kiosque along the north-eastern edge, about halfway down the grassy lawn. This kiosque is modern in design, so it’s not as charming as the antique iron kiosque of the Jardin du Luxembourg, but there’s even more space to spread out here, plus an unbeatable view of the the Eiffel Tower, of course!
Saturday August 6th, 2:00 – 9:30pm
- Genre: Children’s Music & Games
- Performer: Quartier d’Été
Friday August 19th, 1:00 – 3:00pm
- Genre: Choir
- Performer: Paris Music Festival 2016
Monday August 22nd, 3:00 – 4:00pm
- Genre: Brass Band
- Performer: Otley Brass Band
Sunday September 18th, 11:00am – 6:00pm
- Genre: Choir
- Performer: Aubade de Chorales à Coeur Joie d’Ile de France
Sunday September 25th, 10:00am – 1:00pm
- Genre: Square Dance
- Performer: Bunny Circle
Free Concerts in the Park Behind Notre Dame (Square Louis XXIII)
Underneath a canopy of green leaves, this kiosque is very easy to locate since this park is quite small. As you’re being serenaded by the music, relax on a bench under the sculpted trees, admire the lacy details of Notre Dame’s gothic architecture or look out over the Seine river as passenger boats float by.
Saturday August 20th, 4:00 – 9:00pm
- Genre: Dance
- Performer: La Belle Blues
Sunday August 21st, 3:00 – 5:00pm
- Genre: Brass Band
- Performer: Otley Brass Band
Tuesday August 30th, 3:00 – 4:00pm
- Genre: Woodwind Ensemble
- Performer: Batterie-Fanfare de la Musique des Gardiens de la Paix
Saturday September 3rd, 3:30 – 5:30pm
- Genre: Italian Ball
- Performer: Sudanzare
Saturday September 10th, 12:00 – 1:30pm
- Genre: Italian Ball
- Performer: Sudanzare
Sunday September 11th, 11:00am – 1:00pm
- Genre: Choir
- Performer: The Pewsey Belles
Sunday September 18th, 4:00 – 6:00pm
- Genre: Classic DJ
- Performer: Le Disque Tourne Toujours
Sunday October 16th, 4:00 – 6:00pm
- Genre: Classic DJ
- Performer: Le Disque Tourne Toujours
There are dozens more free concerts dispersed throughout Paris for the rest of the summer, but we’ve only included the ones we think our guests would be most interested in.
(Image Credits: All images by Paris Perfect or Hannah Wilson.)
