The Solidays festival, here in 2019, was canceled due to the coronavirus. – SADAKA EDMOND / SIPA
- In his speech Monday evening, Emmanuel Macron warned that the festivals could not be held before mid-July at least.
- These announcements have forced several Parisian festivals, such as Solidays or Lollapalooza, to declare packages.
- Others have been shifted while a handle is, for the time being, maintained.
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“The major festivals and events with a large audience cannot be held until at least mid-July next. ” This advert by Emmanuel Macron during its
TV address Monday evening changes the planning of summer events. And in Paris, there is no shortage of these. We therefore offer you a quick overview of what will or will not be held this summer in the capital.
Canceled
The Foire du Trône in Paris, scheduled from March 27 to May 24 at the lawn of Rueilly (12th), inaugurated the season in being canceled on April 1. Then,
the Solidays festival, organized by Solidarité Sida from June 19 to 21,
also threw in the towel, Monday April 13. “We thought we would postpone to September, but there would still be too much uncertainty,” detailed Luc Barruet, the founding director of the association Solidarité Sida and Solidays. We have to cancel. More than 65% of the ticket office was already sold. “
In addition, the festival being for charitable purposes, Luc Barruet asks “those who can not ask for the reimbursement of tickets already purchased. They will not be valid for a future edition. It would be an act of solidarity for the projects funded by Solidays. But a reimbursement procedure will be put in place, for those who wish. “
Lollapalooza has also withdrawn from its 2020 edition, scheduled for July 18 and 19. The festival says the tickets purchased remain valid for next year. Also canceled, the Peacok Society festival, which was to take place on July 4 and 5. Specialized in electronic cultures, it should have brought together around 30,000 participants in the Paris Floral Park. The Fnac Live Festival which takes place in July in the forecourt of the Town hall suffered the same fate since in a joint press release between Fnac and the town hall of Paris the organizers indicate that “the current health context does not Unfortunately, this year does not allow us to hold this anniversary edition ”.
Rhizomes festival which was to offer free concerts in the 18th arrondissement and along the Ourq canal at the end of June – beginning of July, should also not take place even if the cancellation is to be confirmed, according to a source from the Paris city hall. The Philharmonic Days Off festival, scheduled from June 27 to July 7, would also be on a tightrope. And it is very likely that the 11th edition will be canceled.
Finally, the same fate for the pyrotechnic show in honor of Marie-Antoinette scheduled for July 2 to 10 in Versailles. “In accordance with government directives, Château de Versailles Spectacles is obliged to cancel this show”, indicates the Château on his website.
Postponed
“When jazz is there, java goes away”, sang Claude Nougaro. And when
the coronavirus jazz is on its way, but only to come back in October. This is the case for the Jazz festivals in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (May 9-20) and Nomades – La Voix est libre (May 22-27). Scheduled for June 6 and 7, the eco-electro-pop festival We Love Green is also offbeat, but at the beginning of September. The Paris Hip Hop festival, which was to be held in two stages in June and December, will be picked up during the last month of the year.
Maintained
Given the context, few events are certain to take place. The sound and light show Night at the Invalides which traces “the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Hôtel National des Invalides” will be “maintained with slightly offset dates”, the institution said. Similarly, “the spectator reception system will be modified”.
On the other hand, as is, and according to the Paris City Hall, are “maintained with modifications” the three festivals of the Parc Floral scheduled for July and August, Pestacles, Classique au Vert and Paris Jazz Festival. The Young Talents classical music festival is also maintained, which should normally be held in July. Finally Rock en Seine, scheduled for late August, is also in the dark. “Will American artists, who are building their six-week block European tour, come when their number of dates has already reduced with the first cancellations? Without our headliners, the situation becomes unsustainable, “Arnaud Meersseman, head of AEG Presents France, which organizes Rock en Seine, told AFP.
