Le Bal des Pompiers

In July’s issue of Le Chouchou News we promised you a story about the famous Bal des Pompiers* which takes place on the evening of La Fête Nationale* which, as you know, is le 14 juillet*.

So how did it all start?

In 1937, bystanders from main parade on the Champs Élysées followed some of the firemen back to their caserne* in Montmartre. The fire chief made the fateful decision to open the doors to that tenacious group and a party ensued.
More than 80 years later, the Bal des Pompiers is still going strong and is a much-anticipated annual event, perhaps even more so than the parade itself for les fêtards*, at least.

D’où vient le Bal des Pompiers? | Where does the Firemen’s Ball come from?

*The Firemen’s Ball | *Bastille Day | *on the 14th July | *fire station | *party animals