Today marks Bastille Day, and celebrations were on show for much of Auckland last night after a barrage of explosions rang out over the CBD.

The fireworks display about 6.30pm was part of the Renault French Festival being held at Queens Wharf over four days from July 11 to 14 and was in celebration of Bastille Day.

A string of mildly alarmed comments on social media questioned what the sustained loud thumping was on a seemingly nondescript July evening.

For those wondering what it's all about, Blogger-at-Large Megan Singleton got her own history lesson this week, and shares her findings with Andrew Dickens.