Celesta puts on the show on the protocol
An official ceremony follows an order: guests speak, a flag is raised, sometimes a minute’s silence is observed. We write the show around this protocol, and we can deliver a creation in three weeks once the declarations are under way.
- Three weeks of creative work
- F4-T2-certified pyrotechnicians
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- France and abroad
Four kinds of official ceremony
We adapt the show to the protocol of each ceremony: opening, commemoration, twinning or official handover.
Opening ceremony
A facility, a neighbourhood, a line
The show takes place after the speeches and the ribbon-cutting ceremony. We fit it into a short time slot, often at dusk, to show the public the facility that has just been opened.
What this entails: a time slot dictated by the speakers’ appearances.
Commemoration
8 May, 11 November, commemorations
The tone is one of remembrance. We remove any gratuitous effect and any music that would cover the Last Post.
What this requires: moments of silence built into the running order.
Twinning
Two towns, two flags
The ceremony will be attended by a foreign delegation and the local press. We write a show that can be understood without translation and gives each of the two towns its rightful place in the narrative.
What this requires: a story that can be understood without text.
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 of paperwork, three weeks of creation
The authorities set the minimum: one month before the date to declare a fireworks display, forty-five days to authorise a drone flight. Our teams complete the creation in three weeks, which allows us to catch up on an official date confirmed late.
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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 fireworks declaration goes out at least one month before the date, to the prefecture and the town hall, with the prevention plan and the safety perimeters. The F4-T2 pyrotechnicians and the ICPE-classified depot are our own: no subcontracting at this stage.
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Artistic writing
We write the script in three weeks, within a framework that has already been declared. During these three weeks, we decide with you whether the show will open, punctuate or close the ceremony.
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Validations and rehearsals
Feedback from the authorities reviewing the file, rehearsals and timecode synchronisation with your protocol team. We resolve any points rejected on safety grounds at this stage.
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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.
Prices and lead times for an official ceremony
We price an official ceremony differently from a town festival: it lasts for a shorter time, but the constraints relating to the venue and protocol carry greater weight. Here are the price ranges 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.
Ceremonies we have already delivered
A national commemoration, the opening of a metro line and the inauguration of a marina.
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.
View the project
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.
View the project
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.
View the project
The guarantees to check before signing
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.
Your questions about official ceremonies
How long does it take to organise an official ceremony?
The procedures set the minimum: a fireworks declaration is filed at least one month before the date, and a drone flight authorisation at least forty-five days before. Once this framework is under way, writing, design and set-up take three weeks. We have already worked to tighter deadlines when the public calendar required it: it is then the scale of the set-up that adjusts, never safety or the declarations.
Is a fireworks display appropriate for a commemoration?
Yes, provided the tone changes. For a tribute, the pyrotechnics become slow, low and silent in places, to leave room for the Last Post and the minutes of silence.
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.
Preparing your ceremony
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.