Square des Épinettes: flower crowns, concerts and free workshops for the Fête des Jardins 2026
Make a flower crown, follow a nature trail through the trees or listen to gardeners play live music: the square des Épinettes, in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, has an unexpectedly rich programme lined up for 26 and 27 September 2026 as part of the Fête des Jardins 2026. Entry is free, and the activities are designed for both children and adults.
A historic garden at the heart of the 17th for the Fête des Jardins 2026
The square des Épinettes is no ordinary garden. It was designed by architect Jean-Camille Formigé (1845,1926), who also created the jardin des serres d’Auteuil. Tucked away near the avenue de Saint-Ouen, this green space forms a quiet pocket of nature amid the apartment buildings of the neighbourhood that shares its name.
That weekend, the square provides the backdrop for the national event dedicated to green spaces and the professionals who maintain them. Across several Paris arrondissements, parks, squares and gardens open their gates for free, offering a behind-the-scenes look at urban nature. At the square des Épinettes, the programme is particularly varied.
Hands-on workshops for all ages
Families visiting the square des Épinettes during the Fête des Jardins 2026 will have plenty to keep their hands busy. Three craft activities are on offer: making flower crowns, creating flowers from wool, and building bird perches. These workshops give children a practical way into the natural world, no classroom theory required.
Alongside the crafts, professionals on site will share what their working day actually looks like. Gardeners will explain their trade, while foresters will outline their own role. There will also be a dedicated focus on water management in the gardens of the 17th arrondissement, an aspect of urban green-space maintenance that often goes unnoticed.
- Making flower crowns
- Creating flowers from wool
- Building bird perches
- Introduction to the work of foresters and gardeners
- Water management in the gardens of the 17th arrondissement
Games, quizzes and concerts
The playful side of things takes centre stage at this edition of the Fête des Jardins 2026 at the square des Épinettes. A quiz called « Chemin de la nature » and a nature trail offer a fresh way to explore the garden. Educational games on recycling and waste sorting round out the activities, alongside a hopscotch game based on park rules and a board game called « Stop incivilités ».
These aren’t just diversions: they invite visitors to understand the rules and responsibilities that govern a public green space. Each game tackles a different aspect of garden life, from how visitors behave to how waste is managed.
What makes the square des Épinettes particularly special during this Fête des Jardins 2026 is its live music. The « jardiniers mélomanes », music-loving gardeners, swap their tools for instruments at intervals throughout the afternoon, delivering unexpected musical moments between the trees. It’s a charming reminder of just how varied the people who tend Paris’s gardens can be.
What the Fête des Jardins 2026 reveals about working with nature in the city
Behind a simple stroll through a park lies a wealth of expertise. The Fête des Jardins 2026 is precisely the occasion to make that expertise visible. Arborists, foresters, gardeners: over these two days, these professionals share their knowledge of biodiversity, planting, trees and water management.
For visitors, it’s a tangible way to grasp what maintaining an urban green space actually involves. Children in particular benefit from a learn-by-doing approach: repotting plants, identifying species, taking part in quizzes or following trails all help them see nature through fresh eyes. With its history and its packed programme, the square des Épinettes is shaping up to be one of the unmissable spots in Paris that weekend.
