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5 weekend getaways for bikepacking and trail riding within easy reach of Paris

If, at first glance, Paris might not strike you as the capital of outdoor sports, it still offers a wealth of options: dozens of station-to-station hike ideas, and also several ideas for long-distance bike trips.

Impressionist Light Festival 2026: A Dream Monet at Chatou (78)

The Festival of Impressionist Lights returns to Chatou (78) for its 6th edition and pays tribute to Claude Monet and his gardens. From September 10 to 12, 2026, three free evenings transform the Hameau Fournaise into an Impressionist garden.

Chuseok 2026 at Jardin d'Acclimatation: Paris hosts Korea's festival

The Korean harvest festival Chuseok is returning to the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris on September 19 and 20, 2026. A weekend defined by a hanbok parade, traditional dances, a K-pop contest, and Korean street food, painting the town in the colors of the Land of the Morning Calm.

Essonne: up to 200 exhibitors at this weekend's huge village flea market

A giant flea market brings together between 100 and 200 exhibitors in this small lakeside village on the Essonne’s leisure base. On Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30, 2026, shoppers can browse antiques, clothing, toys and home decor at bargain prices.

Dynamik Parc, the multi-activity park in the Yvelines that’s going to blow you away

Installed quietly this summer at the heart of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Leisure Island, Dynamik Parc unveils a unique, multi-activity park dedicated to sport and recreation. Electric Drift Kart, Laser Tag, Bubble Foot, Archery Game, Big Football, VR, Hado, and other self-guided experiences are on the menu for those eager to discover.

DJ sets, cocktails and a hidden Mediterranean terrace on the Champs-Élysées: CIRA extends summer

CIRA is rolling out DJ-set afterworks on the Champs-Élysées every Thursday and Friday until September 25, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the L’Apéritivo option.

A giant goose game at the Trocadéro for Heritage Days

The Monumental Game of the Goose transforms the Trocadéro forecourt into a giant artistic circuit, where you become the pawn yourself. An immersive, free installation to experience on Saturday, September 19, 2026, for Heritage Days.

Charivari at the Village 2026: carnival, torchlight procession and community dance in Cergy (95)

From September 26 to 27, 2026, Charivari, Cergy’s festive event, is back! On the program: a torchlight procession, a carnival and a public dance, along with plenty of free activities open to everyone.

Uniques, the free festival celebrating equality at the Cité du Cinéma

Concerts, DJ sets, jobs, career guidance, mental health, or even artificial intelligence: the UNIQUES festival returns on September 12, 2026 at the Cité du Cinéma in Saint-Denis. Admission is free with advance reservation.

Unusual: in Port Cergy, a tray race puts kids and adults to the test

Run as fast as you can with a tray full of water glasses: that’s the premise of the Tray Race held in Port Cergy. It’s a free event open to kids as young as three and to adults alike.

Fête à Neuneu 2026: The funfair returns to the Bois de Boulogne starting this Friday.

La Fête à Neuneu returns to the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, from August 28 to October 11, 2026. Thrill rides, attractions for kids, and free parades bring this back-to-school fair to life, opening with a charity evening in support of the firefighters.

Fête à NeuNeu 2026: a solidarity-driven inauguration for firefighters with an unlimited pass

La Fête à NeuNeu 2026 returns to the Bois de Boulogne in Paris’s 16th arrondissement with a charity launch party this Friday, August 28, with proceeds going to the Paris Fire Brigade’s social welfare initiatives.

Fireworks in Élancourt (78): mark your calendar for September 5, 2026.

The intercommunal fireworks display in Élancourt, blocked on Bastille Day 2026 by a prefectural order, awaits you in the skies over Yvelines for this rentrée. The free event takes place along the Coulée Verte on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Lavage de la Madeleine 2026: the Brazilian festival and parade returns to Paris

Le Lavage de la Madeleine returns to Paris for a historic 25th edition, from September 10 to 13, 2026. The gathering takes place on Sunday for the grand free Brazilian festival that whirls samba, batucadas, and Bahian performers as it marches from Place de la République to the Madeleine Church.

Montmorency Fireworks: New date set for Friday, August 28, 2026.

Montmorency's fireworks, postponed this summer due to the drought, finally has a new date: the Val-d'Oise town has scheduled it for August 28, 2026, with a torch-lit parade and an evening of dancing, free admission.

The Champions Burger: the finale of Europe’s biggest burger championship in La Défense, Paris

The Champions Burger is back in Paris for its European grand final, running from August 27 to September 20, 2026, on the Parvis de La Défense. An open-to-all burger competition where the public votes to crown Europe’s best burger.

Montlhéry's free medieval festival 2026: the program in Essonne

The Montlhéry Medieval Festival is back for its 9th edition on September 19–20, 2026, under the theme “Around the World” to mark Heritage Days. Expect equestrian shows, a medieval market, and fire-breathers, all free to attend in Essonne, at the foot of the famous Tower.

The Triporteur Race returns to Paris at the end of September 2026, a quirky parade.

The Triporteur Race returns to the Cours de Vincennes in Paris on Sunday, September 20, 2026, for its third edition. These prewar delivery tricycles take on a 28.4 km course this time, and registration is free.

5 gardens and parks to drop by for a picnic or a rest, near the Champs-Élysées

On a trip to Paris, especially when the weather is nice, you don’t always know where to find a pleasant spot to settle in for a while—maybe to tuck into a picnic or simply take a break before continuing on. Here’s a guide to nice places to linger for a few hours around the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Vietnamese parade in the 13th arrondissement: the September 2026 gathering in Paris

The Vietnamese cultural parade in Paris’s 13th arrondissement finally goes ahead after a heatwave-related postponement. This free, high-spirited procession will run from Avenue d’Ivry to Place d’Italie on Saturday, September 12, 2026. So we’re pulling out the calendar for this festive, immersive outing.