MAIN Art & ... Pop Culture Fete de la Musique

Also known as World Music Day, the Fête de la Musique originated on the streets of Paris in 1982.

Since then, it has since grown each year to be celebrated with wild abandon in most EU countries as well as in far-flung locations in China, Morocco, Brazil, San Francisco and New York.

Traditionally taking place on June 21, the Summer Solstice, the Fete de la Musique is an occasion of a "peoples celebration" of amateur and professional musicians performing for free in concert halls, opera houses and on street corners.

France still rules as the leader of the worldwide phenomenon, and those traveling to the country in summer are forewarned that on June 21st all noise restrictions are lifted, giving the streets over to an organized cacaphony of sights & sounds that lasts through the night!

Fete de la Musique - The official site, in French & English, with a history of the festival plus FAQ, information, news & updates on the 2006 June 21 event in Paris.

Exhibition Road Music Day - London's official site with information on participants, and more details promised as June 21 draws near.

Fete de la Musique: Paris is a fete always - Archived first-person account on the sights & sounds of a Parisian Fete de la Musique.

Fete de la Musique Miami - Free indoor concert with a Latin beat, including details on times and performers.

Fete De La Musique DC - Brief history and overview, related links, plus a 4-minute video of a recent celebration in Washington, D.C.

Elsewhere around the Web:

also see -> Bastille Day | Summer Solstice