Celesta, provider for graduation ceremonies.
We design and produce the finale of your ceremony: fireworks, light drone flight, stage effects and video mapping, for grandes écoles and universities alike, in France and abroad.
- 1,000 shows produced
- Flights authorised by the DGAC
- Present in more than 20 countries
- We’ll get back to you within 48 hours
How does it work? a graduation ceremony.
A ceremony has four parts. Your institution handles the first two; we handle the last two, the roll call and the finale.
17 h 30
Support for families
Cloakroom, collection of graduation gowns, seating in the lecture theatre or under the marquee. Families are arriving; the graduating class is gathering.
18 h 00
The speeches
A few words from the Director, the patron of the graduating class and a graduate representative. The formal part of the ceremony – the part the institution has already got down to a fine art.
18 h 45
Roll call
Each graduate walks up to the stage. Cold sparks, lighting and a soundtrack set to the time-code give the roll call more impact without ever covering the presenter’s voice. This is our first intervention.
20 h 30
The finale
Fireworks, a drone flight drawing the school’s coat of arms or the names projected on the façade: this is our second intervention, in front of the graduating class, the families and the institution.
The timings are provided for guidance only: the arrangements will be tailored to your schedule, venue and the number of graduates being called up.
Organising the ceremony and our part.
Gowns, invitations, speeches, photographer: these are for the institution. We come in at two moments only, the roll call and the finale.
- Gowns and headdresses
- Invitations
- Speech
- Photographer
- Sideboard
- Playlist
- Seating plan
- Printed certificates
Roll call
Cold sparks, a light show and a soundtrack synchronised to the timecode set the pace for the graduates’ roll call. Designed for use both indoors and outdoors, these stage effects never drown out the presenter’s voice.
The finale
A fireworks display synchronised to music, or a swarm of drones forming the school’s coat of arms and the year of the graduating class. The whole assembly looks up at the same moment.
Images from the promotion
The photos of the finale feed your communication, your new-year brochure and the alumni network.
Fireworks displays, drone light shows, scenography: a single service provider.
Depending on the venue for your event, its capacity and your specific requirements, Celesta can combine or separate these three disciplines. They are designed, produced and subject to in-house production control: your organisation will have just one point of contact and a single contract.
I
Fireworks displays
We fire displays synchronised to your music, from an intimate few-minute show to a large display in front of several thousand spectators.
II
Ballets of light drones
In swarms of 200 to more than 2,000 drones, our drones draw your institution’s coat of arms, the class year or a dedicated message. Silent and with a small footprint, they suit urban campuses and noise-sensitive sites.
III
Multimedia scenography
Architectural mapping, lighting, sound design, cold sparks, lasers and live performers are written on one running order.
A feature for every highlight of your ceremony.
Promotional event, return performance, finale under the stars, closing gala: we tailor the programme to the venue, its capacity and the ethos of your organisation.
Leading engineering and business schools
A pyrotechnic finale or a drone ballet to close your school’s graduation ceremony. We work from campuses in the Paris region to regional sites and abroad. The school’s colours, the class year and the logo appear in the sky, carried by the music.
Universities and faculties
For a ceremony involving an entire faculty or campus, our teams design set-ups tailored to large audiences. Stage effects, large-scale projections, a closing fireworks display, and a drone light show: the format is tailored to your budget and venue.
On-stage graduation ceremony
Cold sparks, lighting and a soundtrack set to the roll call, indoors or outdoors.
Display of year group names
Video mapping shows the graduates’ names on the façade of a lecture hall, a castle or a campus building. Each class sees its identity projected in large format, an image then used in photos and on social media.
Gala and school-leavers’ ball
After the official graduation ceremony, the gala carries on the celebration. Fireworks synchronised to the music, a drone flight, lasers and confetti give rhythm to the class evening. We manage the whole thing, from the opening to the finale.
International ceremonies
Do your campuses abroad hold their own ceremony? Our teams travel to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our ICPE-classified depot in Aigremont lets us organise the transport of products ourselves.
Preparation timetable.
Allow three to six months between the first discussion and the night of the ceremony, longer for a large drone flight requiring authorisation. As the academic calendar is known well in advance, scoping can start early.
01
First discussion
We start from your academic calendar, your budget and the message of the ceremony.
02
Writing and site survey
Writing of the show and scenography. At the same time, we survey the site and calculate the flows and safety perimeters.
03
Technical preparation
Tailored technical preparation and supply of equipment from our ICPE-classified depot.
04
Programming and tests
Programming and timing of effects within your soundscape. We carry out simulations and make adjustments second by second.
05
On the day
On the day of the ceremony, our technical management team will oversee the entire event in real time, liaising with your organising committee and the emergency services.
06
Review
Review with your team and first ideas for the next class.
Authorisations and campus safety.
Our in-house teams hold the qualification certificate required for category F4 fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnic articles, under decree no. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010. All our aerial operations fall within the specific category of European Regulation 2019/947, with DGAC authorisation. We handle the official declarations, securing the perimeters and liaison with your campus security department. We carry the operational responsibility.
- F4-certified pyrotechnicians
- Drones: DGAC authorisation
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- Liaison with Campus Security
One provider for the ceremony.
Celesta designs, produces and handles its shows in-house. For your graduation ceremony, this means a single point of contact, a single party responsible for operations, and no chain of subcontractors.
Writing and safety by the same teams
The same teams write the show and handle its safety.
Used to large audiences
We produce shows for several hundred thousand people as well as for small gatherings: managing flows and perimeters is part of every project.
A creation for each institution
Each show is written for the institution, its colours and its site.
Preparing your class’s ceremony.
Preparing a graduation ceremony? Tell us the venue, the audience size and the date. We come back to you within 48 hours with a costed proposal and an artistic approach, with no commitment.
Your questions about graduation ceremonies.
How do you organise a graduation ceremony?
The school sets the date, invites the families, orders the gowns, writes the speeches and finalises the order of the roll call. Celesta handles the staging, and only the staging: stage effects, sound system synchronised with the roll call, projections onto the façade, and the finale.
What happens at a graduation ceremony?
Four stages, almost always in the same order: welcoming the families and handing out the gowns, speeches by the headteacher and the class patron, calling the graduates onto the stage, followed by the finale or gala. The duration depends mainly on the number of names called: allow about one minute per graduate on stage.
When is the best time of year to hold the ceremony?
The ceremonies are usually held between the end of the academic year and the autumn, once the examination boards have reached their decisions. As the academic calendar is known well in advance, we can begin the artistic planning several months beforehand.
Is it allowed to set off a fireworks display on campus?
Yes, subject to certain conditions. Site surveys determine the filming area, the safety perimeter and the distance from buildings. On a densely built-up or listed campus, drone flights or special effects are often used instead: they require neither a fallout zone nor noise management.
Are drone displays replacing fireworks displays?
It replaces or complements it, depending on your aim. Drones suit urban campuses and noise-sensitive sites, as they fly silently, and they can write: the institution’s coat of arms, the class year, a message. Fireworks keep the advantage of sound and scale for a finale.
How long does it take to prepare for the finale?
Generally allow three to six months for a finished project, longer for a large drone flight requiring DGAC authorisation.
Is it possible to organise a performance inside a lecture theatre?
Yes. Cold sparks, heavy fog, stage flames and confetti are designed for use in enclosed spaces, in accordance with fire safety regulations. Our teams carry out a site survey in advance with the venue manager.
Who manages access rights and security?
Our teams take care of it all: prefecture declarations, coordination with the emergency services, setting up a security perimeter, liaising with your campus security team and handling production control on the day. Your institution retains artistic control, whilst we ensure compliance with regulations.
Does Celesta operate outside France?
Yes. Our teams travel to Europe, the Middle East and Asia for ceremonies at our overseas campuses. The licensed storage facility in Aigremont enables them to manage their own logistics.