Gardens Festival 2026 at Aretha Franklin Park: climbing, games and nature workshops for families

The 2026 Garden Festival takes over Aretha Franklin Park in Paris’s 20th arrondissement on September 26 and 27. Re-potting, games, sensory discoveries, and demonstrations by arborists-climbers will shape this nature-filled weekend for families.

The Fête des Jardins is back in Paris on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026 for two days dedicated to green spaces, biodiversity, and the professions that bring them to life. Across the capital, parks, squares, gardens and woodlands open their doors to the public with free activities and opportunities to meet the professionals involved.

On the program at each site: repotting, creative workshops, games, sensory discovery, tours and demonstrations. Children can touch, smell, handle and observe, while adults benefit from tips and exchanges with the gardeners, arborists, or staff on site.

The event also invites visitors to rediscover green spaces that are sometimes newly created or transformed, and to understand their role within the neighborhood. Biodiversity, trees, water, plants, and everyday uses—each garden runs its own program. It’s a playful way to engage with nature in the city while enjoying an outdoor outing.

In the 20th arrondissement, head for the Aretha Franklin Park, in the heart of the Python-Duvernois district. Named in homage to the queen of Soul, this green space has recently gained 7,000 m² more, reinforcing its role as the neighborhood’s green lung.

For the Gardens Festival, families can join a touch-and-scent workshop, repot plants, or explore the Belleville vines. Kids will also find a handful of games, from topple-the-cottages to cornhole. Another highlight: the City of Paris arborists-climbers will put on tree-based demonstrations, showcasing their trade, techniques, and gear.