Francophones and Francophiles, it’s time to dust off your berets and brush up on your French. The Bastille Day French Festival is returning to the Queen Victoria Market on July 11 and 12. For one glorious winter weekend, Sheds C and D will transform into a little slice of France, packed with food, wine and plenty of joie de vivre.
While Bastille Day on July 14 officially commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the birth of the French Republic, these celebrations are focused on the things we all know and love about French culture – think cheese, croissants, crêpes and Champagne. Consider this your invitation to feast on French fare this winter. A glass of vin chaud? Oui. A serve of melting raclette? Oui, oui.
Feeling competitive? Try your hand at pétanque, France's favourite backyard sport, before settling in for live music and entertainment like lively accordion tunes, can-can dancers and talented mime artists on the main stage. The festival's cultural program features the popular Les Lumières talks, walking tours and hands-on masterclasses exploring everything from French history to contemporary issues.
On from 9am to 4pm, entry to the Bastille Day French Festival is free – though a few events are ticketed. Come for the raclette, stay for the rosé. À bientôt!
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