I'm going to be in Paris for Bastille day. What should I do?

Question

I've always dreamt of being in Paris for Bastille day. Now, I will be. Suddenly, I'm realizing that I have no idea of what actually goes on during Bastille day and how an American visiting Paris can participate. HELP!

Answer 1

Lay down on the beach with your clothes out.

and wait for the signal....

You will be in Vibration mode in a while....

Answer 2

A military parade, called Défilé du 14 juillet, is held on the morning of 14 July on the Champs-Élysées avenue  in front of the President of the Republic.

Every local arrondissement has its own celebration in additon to the big parade and ceremony.

Traditionally, dances are organized by the firefighters and these "Bals des pompiers" take place around the firehouses.

The general public attends so just find one and start dancing!

The one organized by the river patrol fire fighters on the Seine is particularly good. Their station is on the Left Bank of the Seine across the river and just west of Notre Dame.

Answer 3

Balls (dances) in the main public squares on the night before. The kind of music varies from one to another- you can get anything from hip-hop to waltzes, but usually "bal-musette", traditional French music. There are also some smaller (but not that small) ones held in some of the fire stations.

Big firework dsplays on either the 13th or 14th - varies .

Answer 4

Good date you have chosed ! Be sure to be on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the military parade. Best place is near the Triumph Arche, where u can also see the officials saluting the memory of "Soldat Inconnu".