Every year on June 21, musicians take over France, filling bars, street corners and rooftops as revellers celebrate midsummer late into the night.
This year, however, the Fête de la Musique coincides with a ferocious heatwave, with a record 35 departments -- roughly a third of the country -- placed under the highest heat alert for Sunday.
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Weather service Meteo-France warned that temperatures could reach as high as 41C in some places.
While some cities have cancelled street events, celebrations in others — including Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg — will go ahead.
The Louvre museum in Paris, though, announced that its planned free concert under its famous glass pyramid had been scrapped due to the heatwave.
To minimise health risks and prevent potential disturbances to public order, the government announced a ban on alcohol consumption during the festivities in departments under red alert.
READ ALSO: LATEST: Much of France put on red alert for extreme heat on Sunday
"Alcohol and high temperatures really do not mix well," Health Minister Stephanie Rist told French daily Le Parisien.
Some Parisians were in favour of the ban.
"I think it's a good thing," said Hailey Infante, 21.
"Honestly, it's really hot, and even a drop of alcohol can quickly go to your head."
Nicolas Pilc was more sceptical, saying the measure would have "absolutely no effect".
"Everyone will do whatever they want," said the 48-year-old.
Paris street parties
The government said it would be up to local event organisers to adapt festivities outside red-alert areas but alcohol will not be served at state-organised events.
Bartender Mona Jaffart said her establishment would not be selling takeaway alcohol and it would "just be a normal day" inside.
Last year, around two million people attended the June 21 street music parties in Paris alone, many of them travelling from Britain.
To ensure public safety, authorities will deploy 4,800 police officers and gendarmes, along with 2,500 firefighters, in and around the capital.
Gatherings along the lower banks of the Seine will be prohibited to reduce the risk of people falling into the water.
Red alert
Officials warned about risks linked to swimming, after four teenagers drowned in France on Saturday.
According to AFP estimates, around 53 million people in France will be affected by the heat on Sunday, with a further 45 departments under orange alert.
The number of departments on red alert has reached a record high, surpassing the previous peak of 20 recorded on July 24–25, 2019.
The Atlantic port city of Nantes is offering free access to swimming pools and museums until the end of the red alert period.
French President Emmanuel Macon on X urged citizens to "look out for others", especially the elderly, children and isolated or vulnerable people.
On Monday, 845 French schools were to be closed because of the heat, while another 1,800 have modified classroom hours to adapt to the weather.
Thirteen of the 17 regions of neighbouring Spain were on orange alert on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France was on red.
The public screening of Spain's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid was cancelled after national weather agency AEMET forecast temperatures could reach 40C in the capital.
Portugal's weather agency placed three inland districts on orange alert, warning of temperatures of up to 42C.
In Britain, the Met Office expanded its amber extreme heat warning for much of England for between Monday and Thursday, forecasting some places could reach 37C.
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