BASTILLE DAY FIREWORKS 2019

WHAT: BASTILLE DAY FIREWORKS 2019
WHEN: SUNDAY 14TH JULY 2019
WHERE: ALL ACROSS FRANCE - MAIN PARADE IN PARIS
COST: FREE

Celebrated widely across France and in French-speaking regions around the world, Bastille day or La Fete Nationale in French is the anniversary of the storming of Bastille on the 14^th July 1789 and the turning point in the French revolution.

On the morning of the 14^th July, the streets on the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs Elysees and onto the Place de Concorde all begin to fill up as everyone eagerly awaits the parade to begin.

Known to be one of the oldest and biggest military parades in Europe it contains service men and women from various units including cadets from military school, the French Navy and Foreign Legion and the parade ends with the Paris Fire Brigade.

Not only is the parade on the ground but also in the air as military aircraft take to the skies. With the president of the Republic, other French officials and guests in attendance they take their ringside seats as the French President opens and reviews the troops to begin the day's celebrations.

Everywhere you go in and around France, the streets and houses are decorated in bunting and banners of the tricolor flag and the locals have painted faces and are dressed in the blue, red and white for the occasion. The French moto can also be heard everywhere around Liberte Egalité Fraternite (liberty, equality, and fraternity) along with breaking into singing the French national anthem; La Maseillaise.

After the parade everyone stays in place to witness the finale. The grand operatic works take to the stage at 9:30pm with a grand concert, then at 11pm the fireworks are set off from the base of the Eiffel Tower and the gardens of Trocadero. The uninterrupted 30-minute grand finale show fills the night sky with a kaleidoscope of colour and light.

For some, once the evening’s celebrations are over, they return home to spend the rest of the day with family and friends but for others, the night has just begun as this is when the traditional bals des pompiers (fireman’s ball) takes place. These are parties organised by the Paris fire stations in the different districts of the capital.

All around the world, French expatriates will be remembering and celebrating their freedom, so why not look around your area to see if there are any special events planned to take part in.