How to Celebrate Bastille Day at the Champs-Elysees

The Champs-Elysees is the broadest and most famous avenue in the city of Paris. It seems very practical, therefore, to hold the majority of parades and street celebrations for Bastille Day, the national French holiday, along the Champs-Elysees. From the Bal des Pompiers (Fireman's Ball) the night before to the vast military parade, the Champs-Elysees is the ultimate destination for a Bastille Day celebration.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Comfortable clothes, including walking shoes
• Bottled water
• Hat
• Sunscreen

1. Arrive in Paris at least 2 days in advance to celebrate Bastille Day along the Champs-Elysees. Tens of thousands of patriotic and enthusiastic Parisians will be joined by an even larger crowd from around the world to celebrate the storming of the Bastille in 1789, and the beginning of the French Revolution. The streets will be crowded well in advance of July 14, and you will need to claim your spot early for the best view of the parades and military inspections.
2. Celebrate Bastille Day at the Champs-Elysees by attending the Bal des Pompiers the night before the parades. The Bals des Pompiers features plenty of food, drinks and live music along the Champs-Elysses, and is a great time to stake out your spot for the parade in advance. If possible, bring a few folding chairs to set along the edge of the street, along with plenty of food and drink.
3. Wear comfortable clothing, especially a good pair of walking shoes, when you celebrate Bastille Day along the Champs-Elysees. Since the Metro in Paris is closed for Bastille Day, and the streets are clogged with revelers, walking will be the only practical way to move up and down the Champs-Elysees as the celebration shifts away from the Arc de Triomphe at the conclusion of the military parades.
4. Settle into your prime viewing spot at least an hour before the military parade begins. The parade starts at approximately 10:30 a.m., with jets flying over the Arc de Triomphe, leaving vapor trails in the colors of the French flag. Count on the parade lasting about 2 hours before the crowd disperses into the city along the Champs-Elysees.
5. Consider a trip to the Louvre Museum after the conclusion of the parades. For Bastille Day, admission into the world's most famous art museum is free.

Tips & Warnings

• Carry plenty of bottled water with you while you watch the military parades along the Champs-Elysees. It can get fairly hot and sunny in Paris in July, and you should protect yourself with a hat or visor and sunscreen as well.