Bastille Day – 14th July – is always special in Paris, but if you want to sample one of the traditional firemen’s balls, you’ll need to go out the night before, Saturday 13th July 2013. There are fourteen choices that night (nine on the right bank and five on the Left Bank), but only six balls altogether the following night.

Here’s our great guide to finding a ball near you, with map links so you don’t get lost!Here are all the details for each night – it’s probably the clearest, simplest guide you’ll find for the 2013 Bastille Day firemen’s balls in Paris.

Things kick off between 6 and 7pm, and proceedings come to a close around 2am.

Entrance is generally free, but you’ll be asked to contribute something when you arrive.

And as we always say, the fire stations in Paris are small, and there are always crowds, so try and arrive early…

Saturday 13th July 2013 – LEFT BANK (5 balls)

Paris 5th arrondissement – Les Arènes de Lutèce (map)

The only ball not to be organised in a fire station, this is in the ruined roman arena – has to be seen to be believed.

Paris 6th arrondissement – Colombier – 11 rue du Vieux-Colombier (map)

Paris 13th arrondissement – Port-Royal – 55 boulevard de Port-Royal (map)

Paris 13th arrondissement – Masséna – 37 boulevard Masséna (map)

Yep – the 13th arrondissement is the only one in Paris to have two balls to choose from. Yay!

Paris 15th arrondissement – Grenelle – 6 place Violet (map)

Saturday 13th July 2013 – RIGHT BANK (9 balls)

Paris 1st arrondissement – Rousseau – 21 rue du Jour (map)

Paris 4th arrondissement – Sévigné – 7 rue de Sévigné (map)

Paris 9th arrondissement – Blanche – 28 rue Blanche (map)

Paris 10th arrondissement – Château-Landon – 186 quai de Valmy (map)

Paris 12th arrondissement – Chaligny – 57 boulevard Diderot / 26 rue Chaligny (map)

Paris 17th arrondissement – Boursault – 27 rue Boursault (map)

Paris 18th arrondissement – Carpeaux – 12 rue Carpeaux (map)

Paris 19th arrondissement – Bitche – 2 place de Bitche (map)

Paris 20th arrondissement – Ménilmontant – 47 rue Saint-Fargeau (map)

Sunday 14th July 2013 – LEFT BANK (3 balls)

Paris 6th arrondissement – Colombier – 11 rue du Vieux-Colombier (map)

Paris 13th arrondissement – Port-Royal – 55 boulevard de Port-Royal (map)

Paris 15th arrondissement – Grenelle – 6 place Violet (map)

Sunday 14th July 2013 – RIGHT BANK (3 balls)

Paris 1st arrondissement – Rousseau – 21 rue du Jour (map)

Paris 4th arrondissement – Sévigné – 7 rue de Sévigné (map)

Paris 12th arrondissement – Chaligny – 57 boulevard Diderot / 26 rue Chaligny (map)

Official Paris firemen site: www.pompiersparis.fr

See a bigger map of the Bals des pompiers 2013