by Pamela Kay

Created on: July 05, 2009

The French celebrate Bastille Day with all the exuberance that America celebrates the 4th of July and Canada celebrates Canada Day, so, any event you plan from a costume ball to a fireworks display needs to reflect the joy of the occasion. Here are so tips for organizing Bastille Day events.

*Set Your Budget

Set a budget for the event you wish to plan and work from there. It might be best to set your budget a little lower than what you plan to spend and hope there are no big surprises at the last moment. Several people chipping in together can throw a more elaborate event than one can.

*Start Planning Early

Get your friends together and start brainstorming ideas that appeal to each of you. Decide on the number of guests you can have, what type of event, how much you will charge (if anything), what the theme will be, a menu and so on. Have each person take over one area of the event such as food or decorations and let them gather ideas, materials and recipes.

Schedule regular meeting to pull the ideas together into a workable plan and rent your space and any equipment you will need such as tables, chairs, amplifiers and so on. Whoever is in charge of food should choose reliable people to help with the prep work and serving or choose a good catering service. Everyone can pitch in on the decorating and creating and delivering invitations.

*Ideas For Bastille Day Events

-A Bastille Day Ball

You may not be able to travel to Paris for the grand ball known as Bal du 14 juillet but you can create your own. Send out ornate invitations and invite your guests to wear elaborate period costumes complete with a mask. Play your favorite music but add in a few minuets for charm.

-A Bastille Day Picnic

Pack an elegant lunch for your guests complete with chilled champagne or wine and take them to a secluded field or park for a picnic complete with fine linens and the following French menu.

Cucumber Salad
Pan Bagnat (A delicious seafood sandwich, find an easy recipe here)
Crudites with Lemon Oil served with toasted baguette slices recipe
Four Fourths Cake recipe

-Fireworks At The Beach

Find a beach that plans to present a fireworks display and invite your guest to meet you there. You go early to set up chairs with luxurious cushions and throws. When the guests arrive serve them French appetizers and fine champagne as they watch the fireworks light up the sky with French music playing in the background.

These tips for organizing Bastille Day events are easy to do things that will insure your guests have a memorable celebration. Just a little planning and some imagination can make your Bastille Day event the one everyone is talking about.

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