Paris Is Planning a New Take on the Classic Drive-In

The drive-in movie experience is fun for the whole family—and COVID-safe, which is key during pandemic times. But Paris is one-upping the classic drive-in to make it *that* much more fun. The City of Paris is launching an event called “Le Cinéma Sur L’eau” (or, “Cinema On the Water” for English speakers), where, instead of cars, Parisians can drive up to the movie screen in electric boats floating in the Seine River.

“Le Cinéma Sur L’eau” is a brand new offering of the annual “Paris Plages,” an outdoor program held on the banks of the Seine that brings sports and leisure activities to the citizens of Paris through July and August.

Paris Plages 2020 will officially kick off on July 18th with the first-ever “Le Cinéma Sur L’eau.” Attendees have already been chosen through a raffle system and will be treated with a viewing of “Le Grand Bain.” Each group chosen to attend will get their own boat to spread out and relax on, and each of the 38 boats will be socially distanced on the Seine, yet close enough to the bank for participants to enjoy the film playing on a 16 x 9-meter movie screen.

According to DesignBoom, there will also be 150 deckchairs along the Quai de la Seine available for those who wish to watch “Le Grand Bain” from the shore.

More pandemic-friendly outdoor events are slated to take place between July 18 and August 30 as part of the overall Paris Plages program, and tickets are available for purchase via ParisInfo.com. If all goes well with “Le Cinéma Sur L’eau,” hopefully Parisians and visitors alike will be able to attend another float-in movie in the near future.