Local authorities
Your 14 July, written and photographed by Celesta
On 14 July, the residents of a town come together under the same sky. Celesta designs and produces shows that combine fireworks displays, video mapping, drone light shows and special effects, from the initial artistic vision right through to the final round of applause.
- Without an intermediary
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- F4-certified pyrotechnicians
- France and abroad
A flexible range to mix and match your 14 July show
Celesta is a provider of fireworks displays and drone shows for local authorities: the company designs, produces and manages the 14 July display, from the artistic concept right through to obtaining prefectural authorisations.
Our services function like artistic and technical building blocks that we assemble. You put together a show tailored to the size of your local authority, the venue, the expected audience size and the approved budget. A rural parish and a major city do not face the same constraints. Our approach to producing fireworks displays for 14 July is tailored to each of these.
Our 14 July celebrations recent cases in care homes
Five languages, a single story for the national holiday
Fireworks displays
The climax
Fireworks displays and pyro-musical displays
From the traditional 14 July fireworks display to the choreographed pyro-musical shows on National Day, set to a soundtrack, our pyrotechnicians craft each sequence with the utmost care and precision. In town centres, the success of the local authority’s project depends first and foremost on a thorough assessment of the available space, safety perimeters and the calibre of fireworks used.
Products in category F4 – Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010, implemented by an operator holding an F4-T2 certificate.
Light drones
Lighting up the sky, silently
Light drone shows 14 July
The 14 July drone light shows offer a new way to celebrate the National Day. Thanks to a fleet of drones piloted with extreme precision, republican symbols and visual designs (the tricolour flag, Marianne, coats of arms, animated murals, etc.) take shape in the sky. Each choreographed display is designed specifically for the venue and synchronised with the show’s soundtrack.
Complies with Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and, from 1 January 2026, with the European standard scenarios or a DGAC authorisation.
Special effects
On the ground, in contact with
Special effects and multimedia devices
Lasers, architectural lighting, stage flames, cold sparks, thick fog and immersive sound extend the narrative onto the ground, bringing it right up close to the audience. Cold sparks, which do not burn, allow effects to be used very close to the audience and even indoors, to make the 14 July celebrations in French towns and villages even more spectacular.
Each installation complies with the fire safety regulations for public access buildings and has been approved by the relevant authorities.
Video mapping
Heritage as décor
Monumental mapping, a republican narrative
For the 14 July celebrations, we project images onto the town’s town halls, castles and monuments, aligned with millimetre precision to the contours of the stone. A precise survey of the building, consultation with the architect from Bâtiments de France, original graphic design, voice-over and soundtrack are all carefully crafted for the occasion.
The display kicks off the evening, before the light drones and pyrotechnic effects take to the stage, orchestrated in perfect harmony.
Performers
Live performances
Performers and performing arts
Through their talent and stage presence, our performers and artists bring a unique sense of emotion to the 14 July show. In perfect harmony with the pyrotechnics, light drones and lighting effects, they accompany each sequence to enhance the festive narrative and bring the experience closer to the audience.
Celesta, acting entirely on its own and without any intermediaries, ensures artistic consistency and safety from start to finish throughout the evening.
On intention at the final round of applause
01
Framing
We set out the objective, the website and the budget.
02
Artistic writing
The play’s structure is taking shape.
03
Design and approvals
Technical design and prefecture declarations.
04
Rehearsals and staging
Everything is sorted out before the shot.
05
D-Day
The production control room synchronises pyrotechnics, drones, sound and light using timecode.
06
Feedback
We’re wrapping up production and getting ready for the next edition.
Method
A single point of contact, From intention to production control
Celesta’s strength lies in its ability to bring these disciplines together in a single 14 July show that is clear and emotionally resonant, without overloading the programme with too many performers. Each element contributes to a shared narrative for the National Day celebrations. A single point of contact oversees the creative, technical and safety aspects, which reduces coordination issues on the day itself and simplifies communication with local council events departments.
- Small, medium and large local authorities
- Measures that can be scaled up or down in line with the approved budget
- Unique creations, never replicated
Why local authorities turn to Celesta for 14 July
01
French expertise and logistical autonomy
The teams bring together professionals from the performing arts, pyrotechnics and stage technology. Celesta’s ICPE-licensed storage facility offers a rare degree of logistical autonomy, from the transport of products right through to their on-site installation. This organisation ensures compliance with deadlines and regulatory requirements, from the application for authorisation to adherence to the parameters agreed with the prefecture and the civil protection services (DGSCGC). Based in Aigremont, in the Yvelines, and with a presence in Normandy, Celesta operates both in France and internationally.
02
Innovation and environmental responsibility
Our approach to the 14 July fireworks display prioritises measures designed to minimise disruption. The use of light drones reduces noise and emissions, optimised firing patterns minimise fallout, and each display incorporates the town’s local history, heritage and visual identity. The 14 July display is meaningful and remains firmly rooted in its local area, both for residents and for the community’s image.
Compliance and implementation
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- F4-T2 Pyrotechnicians
- DGAC-compliant drones
- Compliance with prefectural regulations
- Aigremont and Normandy
Market indicators
Budget and organisation of a 14 July celebration in common
To enable local authorities to get their 14 July fireworks displays off to a better start, town halls’ events departments need three key points of reference: how many to plan for, who is funding it, and when to launch the project. Here is what we are seeing in the French market, and how the pyrotechnician Celesta is adapting to it.
3 à 6
Months before the date: The deadline for writing, staging and completing the prefecture declaration for the performance.
01
Who is funding the show?
Funding is rarely provided by the local council alone. It is most often shared between the local council, the inter-municipal authority, the festival committee, private partners, local businesses, and sometimes a casino or a tourism operator. This arrangement determines both the decision-making timetable and the amount of funding available.
Planning the financing arrangements
02
When to launch the project
A timeframe of three to six months prior to the event date remains the standard. This covers the artistic design, technical planning, any necessary consultations and prefecture declarations, including overflight authorisations for a light drone show. The more constraints there are at the venue, the more important this timeframe becomes.
Six to nine months before the date
03
If the prefecture bans shooting
Droughts are leading an increasing number of prefectures to suspend pyrotechnic displays in July, sometimes just a few days before the event. Planning a contingency option from the outset – such as a drone light show or a flameless multimedia display – ensures that the event can go ahead as planned for local residents, even in the event of a last-minute ban.
A lacklustre decline, as expected
Figures indicative of price ranges observed on the French market, provided as a guide only and not as a Celesta price list.
The price depends on
- The website
- The gauge
- The duration
- The quality of the products
- The standard of creative writing
Get ready for your town’s National Day celebrations with Celesta
Are you organising your local 14 July celebrations? Tell us about your venue, capacity and budget: our teams will provide you with a proposal and a tailored quote. Contact Celesta to organise your pyrotechnic show, aerial or multimedia display.
- Free quote
- Quick reply
- Support from start to finish
Questions frequent
How much time should you allow to organise a 14 July show?
Launch the project several months before the event date. A timeframe of three to six months allows time for creative writing, technical design and prefecture declarations, including regulatory orders and overflight authorisations for drones. These procedures have their own minimum timeframes: a fireworks display must be declared at least one month before the event date, and authorisation for a drone flight must be obtained at least forty-five days beforehand. The more constraints there are at the venue, the more important this lead time becomes.
Drones or fireworks display: which should a local authority choose?
It all depends on the venue and the capacity. For a historic, densely populated city centre or a sensitive site, we recommend a light drone show, which is quieter and produces fewer emissions. For a large outdoor gathering, fireworks remain the most powerful option. Based on our feedback from the field, combining the two remains the most memorable format for the 14 July celebrations.
Who is responsible for administrative authorisations?
Celesta’s teams prepare the regulatory documentation and submit it to the prefecture: notification of a pyrotechnic show, safety perimeters, and drone overflight authorisations from the DGAC. Your departments are kept informed at every stage.
Can you combine fire, drones and video mapping in a single show?
Yes. It is precisely our ability to bring these disciplines together that sets our production apart. The projection mapping opens the narrative on a façade, the drones trace patterns in the sky, and the fireworks mark the finale – all synchronised to the timecode.
How much should you budget for a 14 July show?
Allow between 2,500 and 5,000 euros in a town with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, between 5,000 and 20,000 euros for a medium-sized town or a local authority group, and between 20,000 and 50,000 euros for a large city. A drone light show starts at 10,000 euros. These figures are not a substitute for a quote: the price depends on the venue, the audience size, the duration and the artistic ambition. We provide a quote once the scope of the project has been defined.
Who is funding the 14 July fireworks display?
Funding is rarely provided by the local council alone. It frequently involves the inter-municipal authority, the festival committee, private partners, local shopkeepers, and sometimes a casino or a tourism operator. We tailor the scheme to the budget actually approved, regardless of its source.
What should you do if the prefecture bans the fireworks display?
In the event of a drought, prefectures may suspend pyrotechnic shows, sometimes just a few days before the event. A drone light show – with no flames or incandescent fallout – allows the event to go ahead as planned for local residents. We plan for this contingency from the outset, whenever the circumstances warrant it.
Do you operate throughout France?
Yes, throughout the country, from our offices in Aigremont (Yvelines) and Normandy, as well as internationally. The ICPE depot’s logistical autonomy facilitates transport and on-site deployment.