Bastille Day is for friends

In recent years, the 14th of July — a date I hardly cared about for most of my life — has quickly gone the way of other dependable events like my birthday or New Year’s: a day I can always count on to be one of my favorite celebrations of the year.

My first Bastille Day, I ventured out alone and ended up having one of the most bizarre yet fun days of my entire time in Paris.

(How could we ever forget this?)

But my second time around — which was just as memorable as the first, though for entirely different reasons and far fewer military men — I realized it’s a holiday best spent with others. And it lends itself so well to it, between all the parties and parades and fireworks: if Valentine’s is for lovers and Christmas for family, I’d say Bastille Day is the perfect holiday for celebrating and enjoying the company of best friends.

For going to the Firemen’s Ball:

After all, drinking champagne while dancing on a bar is far more fun with partners in crime — I’d especially recommend the bar in the fire station of the 1er arrondissement, behind St Eustache.

(As previously mentioned, I love the concept of the Firemen’s Ball — to raise money [and possibly keep themselves employed], Parisian firemen throw a yearly party where they throw their safety book out the window, overcrowd a room, add lots of alcohol, throw in some indoor smoking and let people dance like idiots all over the place.)

(PS, props to the kid in the first photo, who managed to jump onto the bar with one arm in a cast just so he could chat up that girl.)

 For picnicking:

Preferably with some gelato and saucisson shopping on the Left Bank, followed by a leisurely afternoon on the Right Bank. (Okay fine you can picnic any day of the year in Paris, but on Bastille Day it feels particularly nice and French.)

For fireworks at the Eiffel Tower:

Tip learned the hard way: if you don’t give precise, I mean precise directions ahead of time, there’s a high chance you’re going to get lost in the mother of all crowds at the Champ de Mars (though it’s worth it to watch Lang Lang and the Orchestre National de France perform in front of the Eiffel Tower, followed by a solid forty minutes of fireworks). If so you may as well get lost, and maybe stay lost, with good company.

(Second tip: Though security sometimes checks for alcohol, you’re totally okay bringing in water. So bring water. Otherwise you will find yourself parched and desolate at the end of the night and contemplating punching random bystanders for their water.)

For strolling the streets of Paris:

Because the walk along the river from the Eiffel Tower to Île St Louis at midnight is utter perfection when surrounded by people and lights and overwhelming summer joy.

More on celebrating le 14 Juillet (and for those lucky enough to be in town, enjoy the fireworks for me!!):

Simply Sara Travel: How to Celebrate Bastille Day in Paris

Ashley Abroad: Hot July: The Firemen’s Ball and Bastille Day in Paris