Local authorities
Celesta puts on the show on the protocol
An official ceremony is not a party. It has a set order of proceedings, guests who give speeches, a flag being raised and, at times, a minute’s silence to be observed. Celesta builds the performance around this protocol, never at odds with it – and knows how to put on a production in three weeks once the arrangements are in place.
- Three weeks of creative work
- F4-T2-certified pyrotechnicians
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- France and abroad
Four ceremonies, four constraints
The protocol varies depending on what the community is celebrating. What changes from one ceremony to the next is not the spectacle itself: it is what the spectacle is meant to convey.
Opening ceremony
A facility, a neighbourhood, a line
The show takes place after the speeches and the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It has to fit into a short time slot, often at dusk, and clearly demonstrate what has just been opened to the public.
What this entails: a time slot dictated by the speakers’ appearances.
Commemoration
8 May, 11 November, commemorations
The tone is one of solemn reflection. There are no gratuitous effects, no music to drown out the death knell: the pyrotechnics are used to honour the memory, never for the sake of celebration.
What this entails: silence treated as a material, just like fire.
Twinning
Two towns, two flags
The ceremony will be attended by a foreign delegation and the local press. The programme must be understandable without translation and give each of the two local authorities its rightful place in the narrative.
What this requires: a story that can be read in two languages, and therefore without words.
Official handover
Awards, honours, ground-breaking ceremonies
Often indoors or in an enclosed courtyard, in front of a small audience. The production then focuses on stark visual effects and sound, without any external lighting.
What this entails: effects that comply with the fire safety regulations for public buildings.
One month for the administration, three weeks to create it
Two clocks are ticking in parallel. The authorities impose their deadlines: one month before the deadline for declaring a fireworks display, and forty-five days to authorise a drone flight. The creative process, however, takes just three weeks – that’s where a late confirmation of an official date is made up for.
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Scope and choice of approach
The venue, the expected attendance, the order of precedence and the message conveyed by the local authority. This is where the decision is made as to whether drones will be permitted: applications for flight authorisation must be submitted at least forty-five days before the event.
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File and statements
The application for the fireworks display must be submitted at least one month before the event, to the prefecture and the town hall, together with the risk management plan and the safety perimeters. The F4-T2 pyrotechnicians and the licensed storage facility are all in-house: no subcontracting is involved at this stage.
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Artistic writing
The script is written within a framework that has already been established. Three weeks are enough: this is the window during which it is decided whether the performance will open, punctuate or close the ceremony.
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Validations and rehearsals
Feedback from the production teams, rehearsals and timecode synchronisation with your protocol team. Any security issues are resolved here, not the day before.
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Location scouting and editing
Site survey, checking fire brigade access routes, accessible routes and sightlines from both the official stand and the back of the square.
D-Day
Driving
Timecode production control: the pyrotechnics, drones and sound are synchronised with the sequence of the ceremony, rather than the other way round. A stage manager follows the order of proceedings in real time and accommodates any delays from the podium.
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Dismantling and assessment
Restoration of the site, recovery of any remaining pyrotechnic materials and a report to your department, which may be used as it stands for the next deliberation.
Administrative deadlines are non-negotiable: one month before the date for a fireworks display, forty-five days for a drone flight. On the other hand, once this framework is in place, the writing and editing can be completed in three weeks – that’s where you save time when an official date is confirmed late.
Market indicators
How much does a ceremony cost? official
An official ceremony is not the same as a town festival: it lasts for a shorter time, but the constraints relating to the venue and protocol carry greater weight. Here are the typical timeframes we see, and the timeframe within which our teams are able to work.
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Days before a drone flight: the longest administrative process. A month is enough for a fireworks display on its own, and the production can be completed in three weeks.
Three ceremonies already held
A national commemoration, the opening of a metro line and the inauguration of a marina. Three different sets of protocols, three different arrangements.
Commemoration
The 80th anniversary of the landings at Saint-Lô
A rebuilt city, a legacy to be honoured, and a light show projected onto the public building to mark the start of an official evening event.
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Opening ceremony
The arrival of the underground in Bagneux
The opening of a new line is celebrated in front of local residents and elected representatives from both local authorities concerned, at a site with limited space.
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Opening ceremony
The Marina at L’Isle-Adam
A marina open to the public, a stretch of water as the backdrop, and a shot timed to coincide with the end of the speeches.
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What is verifiable
A local authority assumes liability when it organises a public ceremony. Here is what your department can check before signing.
ICPE-licensed storage facility
The products are stored in the company’s own warehouse, which is registered as a classified facility. There is no third-party handling.
F4-T2 Pyrotechnicians
Level 2 Qualification Certificate, valid for categories F4 and T2 in accordance with Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010.
DGAC-compliant drones
European Regulation 2019/947 and, from 1 January 2026, standard European scenarios or authorisation from the DGAC.
Prefecture declaration
The file is compiled and submitted by our teams, together with the risk prevention plan and the safety perimeters.
Aigremont and Normandy
Two operational bases, in the Yvelines and in Normandy, which serve as starting points for operations throughout France and abroad.
Questions frequent
How long does it take to organise an official ceremony?
The procedures set the minimum requirements: a fireworks display must be notified at least one month before the event, and authorisation for a drone flight must be sought at least forty-five days in advance. Once this framework is in place, the writing, design and editing take three weeks. Celesta has previously worked to tighter deadlines when the public schedule required it: in such cases, it is the scale of the operation that is adjusted, never safety or the necessary notifications.
Is a fireworks display appropriate for a commemoration?
Yes, provided the tone is changed. In a tribute, the pyrotechnics are slow, subdued and silent in places, to make way for the tolling of the bells and the minutes’ silence. It is a different style of composition, not a scaled-down show.
What authorisations are required?
An F4-category fireworks display requires Level 2-certified pyrotechnicians and a prefecture declaration, accompanied by a risk prevention plan and safety perimeter map. Drone flights are governed by European Regulation 2019/947. Our teams handle the submission and withdrawal of both applications.
Is it possible to hold an indoor ceremony?
Yes. A certificate presentation or a ground-breaking ceremony is often held indoors or in an enclosed courtyard. The production then focuses on dramatic effects, such as smoke and sound, whilst complying with the fire safety regulations applicable to premises open to the public.
Who is in charge of running the proceedings on the day of the ceremony?
A Celesta production control manager, liaising with your protocol department. The production control room is synchronised via timecode with the order of the ceremony and is able to accommodate any delay from the podium: the performance begins once the public address has finished, not at the time stated on the programme.
Do you operate outside the Yvelines and Normandy?
Yes. Our bases in Aigremont and Normandy serve as departure points for operations throughout France and internationally.
An official date already set
Please let us know the venue, the date and your proposed order of service. Our teams will get back to you with a proposal, a plan and a quote.