Fête Nationale d'Arpajon

The National Holiday in Arpajon: Musical Tradition and Republican Civism

Arpajon, a medieval town of 10,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Orge river in Essonne, celebrates its National Holiday with a particular attachment to republican traditions. The program for July 13th and 14th combines music, the ritual of the torchlight procession, and the official ceremony, in a respect for forms that testifies to the civic identity of this historic town.

July 13th: Concert and Torchlight Procession

The evening of July 13th begins at 10 PM in the courtyard of the Town Hall with a concert by the Arpajon Musical Society. This musical society, founded in the 19th century, is one of the oldest and most active in the Essonne department. Its repertoire blends military marches, brass band music, and patriotic compositions, creating the solemn and festive atmosphere suitable for the republican gathering on July 13th.

At 10:15 PM, the torchlight procession starts from the corner of Rue Herriot and Avenue de Verdun. This procession of light winds through the historic streets of the center of Arpajon, under the eyes of the inhabitants gathered on the sidewalks. The torchlight procession is one of the oldest and most moving republican rituals: it recalls the torches carried by Parisians in the days leading up to and following the storming of the Bastille.

The evening concludes with fireworks, launched from the Marcel Duhamel parking lot. Colorful showers of light then descend from the Arpajon sky, illuminating the roofs of the Town Hall, medieval houses, and the heights of the Orge. Spectators, seated in the streets and on the square, applaud each luminous bouquet before cheering the finale.

July 14th: The Official Ceremony

The morning of July 14th is dedicated to official commemoration. At 11 AM, the republican ceremony takes place in the courtyard of the Town Hall, in the presence of the Prefect of Essonne, the Mayor of Arpajon, and local elected officials. Veterans, led by standard-bearers, participate in the commemoration. The Marseillaise rings out in the paved courtyard of the town hall, reminding everyone of the meaning of the national holiday.

At 12:30 PM, the traditional banquet for seniors brings together the town's seniors at the Espace Concorde, by prior registration. This festive meal is an opportunity for the town's oldest residents to share their memories and pass on the meaning of this republican heritage to younger generations.

Arpajon, Town of the Bean Fair and Traditions

Arpajon is world-renowned for its Bean Fair, created in 1226 by a charter from Louis VIII and still celebrated on the first weekend of September. This thousand-year-old agricultural fair testifies to Arpajon's deep roots in the popular and rural traditions of the Île-de-France region. This same attachment to traditions is found in the National Holiday, celebrated with respect for forms and civic sincerity that honor the town's history.

Arpajon is also the birthplace of the writer Francis Carco, a great connoisseur of popular Paris, whose work is part of this tradition of popular celebration and French conviviality. The Fête Nationale d'Arpajon perpetuates this spirit.