It’s been a longstanding tradition that Paris would go festive each July 14th, to celebrate the Storming of la Bastille, an event usually considered as the symbolic start of the French Revolution.
Another tradition is that the firemen of Paris would host à public bal every July 13th. Do note that although it is called “Bal du 14 Juillet”, it usually occurs on July 13th. It all started in 1937 in Montmartre, when one firemen officer opened the doors of the barracks to the festive crowd of Montmartre for the first time. Since then, every year, all fire brigades not only open their premises, but they organise public bal, with music, drinks etc. It is in fact one way for the firemen to finance their social action.
It so happens that you are living your Parisian life right next to one of these fire brigade, not 300m around the corner.
The bal of the Rue du Jour is not only very near. It is holds a high reputation of joyful music and ambience. It is usually very crowded, but if you are lucky you might get a chance to sneak in and share a drink with a handsome Pompier de Paris.
It is usually quite crowded, lots of music and drinks, and some time if you’re lucky you can get more than you came for — on the full Mounty side. It is hard to know in advance which Brigade will deliver the wildest performance, so I guess you have to try your luck somewhere.
Should you move around on this special evening, here are the addresses of all the Paris Fire Brigade hosting a July 13-14th bal.
Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 