Bastille Day 2018 Paris Fireworks Full Viewing Information & Events

French National Holiday Celebration Is July 14

The Fourth of July of France, called Bastille Day, is Saturday, July 14.

The event marks the storming of the Bastille fortress on July 14, 1789 that led to the overthrow of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.  There are celebrations all over France from the cities to the villages, with the biggest being in Paris.

Here’s your guide to the celebration and fireworks in Paris for this special day and night.

LOCATION: The fireworks will be set off from the Eiffel Tower and the gardens of Trocadéro. Choreographed multicoloured fireworks will explode against the backdrop of the Parisian night sky.

TIME: The fireworks start at 11 p.m., and will last for 30 minutes.

FIREWORKS VIEWING: The public viewing spot is from the Champ de Mars. You can also watch along the Seine River and several other open spots throughout the city.

ADULT DRINKS: You can drink alcohol in the streets of Paris.  Lots of locals and visitors are consuming French wine before and during the fireworks.

SECURITY: It will be tight so be patient. Don’t take a backpack.

USA PRESIDENT’S VISIT: Donald Trump will be in Paris for Bastille Day, so there will be even more security. He will be eating lobster with French President Emmanuel Macron in the Eiffel Tower. Protesters are planning a “No Trump Zone” with events that include music and dancing in the Place de la Republique, and a “Don’t Let Your Guard Down Against Trump” march that begins at the Place de Clichy on Friday.

CHAMPS-ELYEES PARADE: Trumpets and bugles signal the arrival of the President of the French Republic on the Champs-Elysees. This parade is a highlight of Bastille Day for many French citizens. Units of the French army parade down the avenue lined with crowds of onlookers. Times: 10.10 am: arrival of the President of the French Republic. Noon: Departure of the President of the French Republic.