Paris June 21 Music festival

Bets is right about music being anywhere. You can wander around and stumble upon all sorts of stuff. Two years ago, we were thrilled to find a dixieland band playing just outside a bar. This year, with it falling on a Friday, I expect crowds to be a little rowdier. Our experience is that everything is family-friendly early in the evening. The longer you stay out, the less family-friendly it will get. Some venues have had problems requiring police intervention after midnight (and it's been teenagers who are the problem), but that's the exception and not the norm. There may be some street closures and bus re-routes, but it shouldn't impact your travel if you walk and take the metro. It'll have a much bigger impact on dinner choices. Some will have their outdoor tables booked already, others will have special menus for the evening (rare, but has been done), and this year there is some rule where they can't serve alcoholic drinks in glasses outside after a certain hour. They have to use plastic or disposable cups.

I can confirm this from personal experience. A couple of years ago, we were staying at a hotel on the left bank for summer solstice. There were musicians stationed at several corners in the neighborhood. We found a cafe' table on the street and enjoyed the carnival ambiance and music until after midnight.

Is the music festival just one day? We are arriving early on the 22nd. Thanks!

How early? It will wrap up by sunrise on the 22nd.

The festival is called the Fête de la Musique and is held throughout France on June 21st every year. Some smaller villages may only have one venue with music, other places - like Paris - will have music throughout the city. We love it.

You can find out what's planned in the newspaper but the best way to enjoy the Fete de la Musique is just wandering around in a district you particularly like and just see what happens there !