This free music event, held every year on the summer solstice, sees the streets of Paris turn into a Music Festival. La Fête de la Musique is not to be missed! Go take a look at www.parisbyphoto.com for our coverage. You will have to wait until next year to experience this for yourself though, as it is already over for 2010!

As you will read on our website, it is better to visit some of the more central areas such as the 4th or 5th. This year we decided to go to Trocadero, having previously always spent the time in either the 4th or 5th experiencing nothing but a nice party atmosphere. This time it was still great but there were a lot of suburban youths trying to start fights in the street. I had my retired mother and her friend with me. They certainly felt very uncomfortable a few times, especially when 20 or so young guys ran past our table out side of the café we were at! There were chasing after another group of youths looking to start some trouble.

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I am sharing my experience. I contribute to other threads where I can, not always linking to my site. I am not selling anything.

We have been in Paris for this the last few years and loved it. This year our schedule is different and we will arrive later and I was lamenting the fact that we would miss Fete. Thanks for the report!

Thanks for sharing, parisbyphoto! Sorry I missed the music festival. I love your site... from reading your web pages earlier, I found out the gay pride parade will be taking place the day we arrive. I'm looking forward to that!

Great timing, I hope you enjoy the march and I hope you enjoy your stay in Paris. We will be there to photograph the event and will update the events page as soon as we can. The weather looks good for the weekend so I think it should be a great day for it.

Sounds great! Our hotel is right by the parade route... says it starts in Montparnasse, goes up St. Michel, east on Blvd. St. Germain, across Pont Sully to Bastille... we'll be in the 5th near Blvd. St. Germain -- any idea what time the parade might be up that way? I read they leave Montparnasse around 2:00 pm, and end up at Bastille 5:30. Any guesses what time I might catch it? We'll be jetlagged but wanting to explore the Latin Quarter that day. But don't want to miss it!!!!

I am not sure, last year it was delayed a bit, though not sure why. If it leaves at 2, I would hope that it will be around there between 30-45 minutes. From Montparnasse to St Michel, walking slow, it usually takes around 30-45 minutes max.

Thanks! That's good to know! I was assuming it would take longer, but I'll try to head over that way around 2:30! Thanks for the info.

It probably will, but we will see.....

<<<i>I am not sure, last year it was delayed a bit, though not sure why</i>>>

Well, because they run on GPT*, of course! Haven't you ever been to a drag show?


*Gay People's Time

Very funny. Nope, not been to see a drag show. Perhaps I will get to see one tomorrow night after the march.

parisbyphoto, I just checked out your Pride pictures on your site -- fantastic job! We had an amazing time at the parade... despite being jet-lagged (flew in from Miami that morning) we woke up quickly and found ourselves surrounded by a million fun people... we joined in the march, dancing down Blvd. St.-Germain for an hour or so. It was amazing to be a part of something special on the other side of the Atlantic! (Sadly, we were too exhausted to end up in the Marais that night...) I got some pictures and video of the parade, and I'm going to edit together a short video (iMovie) with photos, music, etc. I'll post it on YouTube when it's done and send the link to those who want to see. Thanks for sharing your pictures to all of us!

Carol

Hey, it is great you enjoyed it. I bet you must have been exhausted!

We WERE exhausted, but that parade was a definite pick-me-up! (Well, that plus a lot of espresso). We had fun for sure. I made a really great video and posted it to YouTube, but they wouldn't allow it 'cause i used a copyrighted soundtrack for music (without the music, it just doesn't work!) When i re-edit with a new (copyright-free track) i'll post again

please do post the vids when they are ready. I keep checking back to see them

parisbyphoto, thanks for making me buckle down and do it! Here's a link to the Paris gay pride parade video... what a blast! Feel free to pass the link around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeloeQrQiXo

Carol

cool video. If you do not mind I will add it to the page.

parisbyphoto, go for it! i'm glad you'll link to it... thanks!

If you are headed to Paris around 25th June, the 2011 Paris Gay Pride starts at Montparnasse around 14:00. We will of course photograph the march again, as last year was a lot of fun.

http://www.parisbyphoto.com/events/gaypride/ for more details, including a map of the route.