Paris Midsummer Fireworks - 24 June
 

Apparently every 24 June there is a free fireworks display celebrating the shortest night of the year and honoring St. John the Baptist. Anyone familiar with this? We will be arriving in Paris the day before. I am wondering if this is something that we should make a point to see. It sounds like it would be. The display is fired off from the upstream tip of the Ile Saint-Louis. We are staying nearby in the 5e.

Where would be a good vantage point for viewing? What time does the display usually begin? I am thinking anywhere along the Quai Saint-Bernard would be good, but does it get crowded? Anyone know of a rooftop or sidewalk cafe or bar that would have a good view?

I live in paris since 35 years, never heard about fireworks on 24 June (and highly doubt they exist - there is no celebration of anything this day.
The only yearly fireworks are ob 14 July

There is a massive celebration on the 21st (Fete de la Musique) where there are street musicians almost at every street corner. Some good, some less than..good variety. Remember crowd singing pop songs (from Mrs Johnny Depp) on blvd St Germain.

Thanks Michael. Unfortunately we will miss this one as we do not arrive until 23 June. I actually found out about the fireworks display when I was looking up to see when the Fete de la Musique was and whether or not we would be in town that day. I had heard of the Fete de la Musique but not the Midsummer Fireworks (as apparently some locals have not either).

Has anyone actually seen or heard of this before?

The second site is dubious : it advertises events at La Samaritaine (closed 3 years ago), mentions a 'Printemps des Musees' (replaced 2 years ago by the Nuit des Musees), most phone numbers are missing one digit....

Well, there's this one:
http://destinationsen.eurostar.com/s...event_id=85137

Do you really think this is made up? Now I am curious...

i wonder why June 24th is considered the shortest night of the year? Not doubting the fireworks just why not on the Solstice - or is 24th St jean's holiday?

According to this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer
the reason it is celebrated on the 24th rather than the actual solstice on the 21st has to do with differences between the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

According to the the above article:

<i> &gt;&gt;&gt;In France, the &quot;F&ecirc;te de la Saint-Jean&quot; (St John's Holiday), traditionally accompanied by impressive fires that are reminiscent of Midsummer's pagan rites, is a catholic festivity in celebration of Saint John the Baptist. It takes place on June 24, on Midsummer day (St John's day).

In most French villages, a very tall bonfire is built by the inhabitants in order to be lit on St John's Day. In the Vosges region and in the Southern part of Meurthe-et-Moselle, this huge bonfire is named &quot;chavande&quot;.&lt;&lt;&lt; </i>

Seems as though it is possible that there would be fireworks on this day. Perhaps they are not very impressive as fireworks go?

I was in Paris on that day a few years ago and never heard anything about such a thing, and I read the newspaper daily and the events guides. That is a religious holiday, but I thought it was mainly a rural thing, not in Paris. At least currently, it was celebrated in Paris many years ago, or centuries ago (the king used to light the fire). I don't know that Paris would want to encourage people to be lighting bonfires around the city. Usually it's a matter of lighting fires which is a symbol of the summer solstice.

I'm always surprised how excited people are about anything to do with fireworks, even holidays that have nothing to do with them (like other country's national days).

Actually, I think they did used to have some fireworks in Paris on that day a long time ago, like ten years ago ( read a news items that they did in 1997) Fireworks are pretty expensive, they don't do that as much any more. This holiday has something to do with the Knights of Malta, but I don't know what, but I've seen several mentions of churches doing something special that holiday in relation to the Order of Malta.

I'd forget about it, it's mainly a religious holiday. St Francois Xavier parish in the 7th is having a special event for it, a parish picnic.

It's not a big deal. We'll be there with kids and when I saw this I thought it would be fun for them, especially since our hotel is a very short walk from Ile Saint-Louis. From the description it looked like a semi-big deal and I thought it was a little odd I hadn't heard of it, which is why I posted here to find out more. I didn't want to make plans to be there if it was two guys and a bottle rocket or non-existent, which seems to be the consensus.

Thanks for all the input.

I'll be in town on the 24th, so I'll make a note to see what this is all about.

This is very funny and brought back a good memory.
I was in Paris on that day 2005 and had found the same info online before the trip. My friend and I invited a neighbor of our apt. there to see these fireworks. All we got was rain! It was a lovely evening watching the tango dancers along the river before the sky opened up.
So I'd say skip it :)