When the Summer Solstice arrives on Saturday, millions of people across France will attend the impromptu street concerts of Fte de La Musique hosted by restaurants, bars, museums and even libraries a French summer tradition for more than 40 years now.

The Summer Solstice of June 21 the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere also heralds Frances belovedmusicfestival, the Fte de la Musique, which is marking its 44th year.

Amid the heat, streets, bars, restaurants, gardens, museums and even libraries across France will host thousands of concerts for one night only.

From classical to techno to jazz and rap, the line-up features a mix of renowned artists and bands, including La Femme, Romain Pissenem, Major Lazer Sound System, and Abd al Malik some of the many artists that will perform at the Olympic Cauldron, which will bere-lit for the first timesince theOlympic Games.

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In every corner of the city, artists from around the globe from Brazil to Cambodia will be present, bringing music for every taste.

Alongside these headliners, amateurs and street performers from across the country will also take the stage. Many of the events are organised by town halls as well as by local associations, shops, schools and neighbourhood cafs.

• The full lineup for concerts in Paris can be foundherewhile the full lineup for all of France is available on thegovernment website.

Millions have attended in previous years, with some traveling from outside of France to join the festivities.

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This year,Beyoncwill also be performing for three days over the weekend at the Stade de France, attracting even more music lovers to Paris.

Social media, especially TikTok, is buzzing with foreigners, mostly British, eager to join the celebration. Many are sharing tips on how to celebrate the event and even practicing their French.

The Paris transport system will offer a special Fte de la Musique pass for 4.20 which provides unlimited access to all public transportation (except to airports) from 5pm on June 21 until 7am on June 22.

The fte this year fortuitously falls on a weekend the next Summer Solstice to take place on a Saturday will be in 2031 but is also expected to coincide with a heatwave that could see Paris temperatures soar to around 35C (95F).

Musical origins

Former minister of culture Jack Lang launched the first Fte de la Musique in 1982. A ministry survey conducted that year found that around 5 million French citizens played an instrument including half of all young people. Lang decided to create this free festival as a way to break down the barriers between amateur and professional musicians.

The idea of the free festival was to be open to all music, without hierarchy of genres or practices.

Some credit Joel Cohen, an American musician working at France Musique public radio, as the originator of the idea of a musical solstice. In 1976 Cohen launched the Saturnales de La Musique, a special broadcast to celebrate the solstices on June 21 and December 21 with music.

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The European Year of Music in 1985 set its sights on exporting the celebration abroad, and by 1997 a charter on La Fte Europenne de la Musique was signed in Budapest.

Thousands of cities around the world now celebrate Fte de la Musique, which means Music Party in French but is also a play on words since Faites de la musique meaning to make music is pronounced the same way.

Organisers underscore that the event is "for all music and all audiences without any lucrative purposes".

Across the world, more than 120 countries now host Fte de la Musique events in several cities.

Originally published on France24