Born on June 21
Fête de la Musique
Play something, anywhere.
Next: June 21, 2027
Where it comes from
The Fête de la Musique began in France on 21 June 1982. A national survey had just found that five million French people played a musical instrument, so the Ministry of Culture under Jack Lang, with its director of music Maurice Fleuret, decided to bring them out into the streets.
How it's celebrated
From the evening into the small hours, amateurs and professionals play for free on street corners, in squares, bars, gardens and concert halls, and every genre is welcome, from classical to reggae. In Paris the metro runs all night so that people can get home. In Britain the day goes by the name Make Music Day.
Did you know
In 1997 a charter for a European Fête de la Musique was drawn up in Budapest to guide cities taking part.
Read the full story of Fête de la Musique
Also on this day
- International Day of Yoga · Breathe in, stretch, begin.
Star sign
Cancer · June 21 – July 22 · Water sign
Protective of the people they love, and the keeper of everyone's memories.