Low-key Paris New Year party gets the go-ahead
A New Year's Eve party will now go ahead on Paris's iconic Champs-Elysées boulevard despite fears it might be scrapped after the Paris terror attacks. But it won't be an extravagant affair.
No fireworks, increased security: that’s the recipe for this year's “sober” December 31st street party, according to city authorities.
"We have decided to mark the change of year in a reflective and sober way," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told JDD magazine.
The decision to stage the party is “a signal” that “we won’t give in” after the Paris attacks, she said.
The decision comes just after a month after terrorists murdered 130 people in the French capital, and was made only after several days of deliberation by the interior ministry and police.
The Champs-Elysées event will be France’s biggest since the attacks.
There won't be any fireworks though, over fears they might spark panic. Instead images will be projected onto the Arc de Triomphe. The display will last just ten minutes, starting at 11.50pm.
And for security reasons, four large screens will be placed along the famous bouvelard to avoid a large crowd forming around the archway.
France imposed a state of emergency after the November 13th attacks. This has yet to be lifted.
Last year, some 650,000 people gathered on the Champs-Elysées to usher in 2015.
Comments
See Also
No fireworks, increased security: that’s the recipe for this year's “sober” December 31st street party, according to city authorities.
"We have decided to mark the change of year in a reflective and sober way," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told JDD magazine.
The decision to stage the party is “a signal” that “we won’t give in” after the Paris attacks, she said.
The decision comes just after a month after terrorists murdered 130 people in the French capital, and was made only after several days of deliberation by the interior ministry and police.
The Champs-Elysées event will be France’s biggest since the attacks.
There won't be any fireworks though, over fears they might spark panic. Instead images will be projected onto the Arc de Triomphe. The display will last just ten minutes, starting at 11.50pm.
And for security reasons, four large screens will be placed along the famous bouvelard to avoid a large crowd forming around the archway.
France imposed a state of emergency after the November 13th attacks. This has yet to be lifted.
Last year, some 650,000 people gathered on the Champs-Elysées to usher in 2015.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.