Fête Nationale de Gennevilliers

The Fête Nationale de Gennevilliers: July 14th Celebrated on the Banks of the Seine

Gennevilliers (92230), a working-class and popular town in the Hauts-de-Seine department on the banks of the Seine, celebrates the National Holiday with enthusiasm every year. Like many towns in the Île-de-France region, Gennevilliers organizes its festivities on July 13th, the eve of the national day, allowing its residents to enjoy a festive evening before the public holiday.

Fireworks above the Town Hall

The highlight of the festivities is the fireworks display fired above the Gennevilliers town hall on the evening of July 13th. This pyrotechnic show brings together thousands of Gennevilliers residents and visitors from neighboring towns every year in the streets and public spaces offering a view of the Hôtel de Ville. The town hall, an emblematic building of the commune, serves as a backdrop for this light show that illuminates the sky of the northern Hauts-de-Seine.

The choice of July 13th for the fireworks display is a tradition in many towns in Île-de-France, allowing for festivities to be organized without the constraint of the public holiday, and offering residents a festive evening that naturally extends into July 14th.

The Paris Firefighters' Ball

In addition to the fireworks, the Paris firefighters organize their traditional ball in their Gennevilliers barracks on July 13th and 14th. These popular balls, open to the public, are a national institution dating back to the 1930s. Music, dancing, good cheer, and a festive spirit reign in a friendly and popular atmosphere.

The firefighters' ball is free or donation-based, in the spirit of sharing that characterizes the National Holiday. It is an opportunity for residents to meet the firefighters, discover the barracks, and share a memorable evening.

A Republican and Popular Celebration

The National Holiday in Gennevilliers is a key moment in the communal republican calendar. It recalls the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that form the basis of the French Republic, and embodies them in a collective and joyful celebration. In a town with a working-class and activist history, the National Holiday takes on a particular significance, that of a community asserting its belonging to the Republic while celebrating its own identity.

How to Get There

Gennevilliers is accessible via metro line 13 (Gabriel Péri station) or by bus lines. The Gennevilliers town hall is located on avenue du 8 mai 1945.