Bastille Day in NYC 2019 guide

French-ify your life during Bastille Day—NYC celebrates France with outdoor parties with wine, cheese and performances

By Tazi Phillips and Jennifer Picht | Posted: Thursday July 5 2018

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Ooh la la! Francophiles have their choice of fetes to celebrate Bastille Day. NYC’s annual celebration includes street fairs, dance events and performances (the cancan!), including more great things to do outside in NYC. If you missed out on all the 4th of July events in NYC, you can still sport your red, white and blue duds and show your support for the French.

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When is Bastille Day?

The holiday is always held on July 14 to celebrate French National Day (July 14, 1789). When the French holiday does not fall on a Sunday, NYC celebrations are held either the Sunday before or after. This year, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) is hosting its celebration on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

What is Bastille Day?

Bastille Day, also known as French National Day, is a holiday celebrating the beginning of the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille.

Where is Bastille Day?

While the most popular Bastille Day celebration takes place on 60th Street between Lexington Avenue and Fifth Avenue on Sunday there are multiple fetes happening all over the city.

Best things to do for Bastille Day

Restaurants

French Restaurant Week 2019

Celebrate France's Independence Day—the American way—by stuffing your face with delicious delicacies from the many participating bistros and brasseries this year. You can order on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89, $25, $38 or $178.90, if it's a special occasion. And some of the highlights include meals from Pardon My French, Jubilee, Le Bateau Ivre and more during Bastille Week. So wear your beret and dine like the French!

Photograph: Courtesy Sasha Arutyunova

Things to do

Bastille Day on 60th Street

Celebrate France's Independance Day at this Gallic fair filled with bakery bites (crêpes, eclairs), plus performances by can-can dancers strutting their stuff to the jubilant Hungry March Band. Once the festival fatigue sits in, enjoy nibbles of fromage and baguettes, and sips of beer and various wines and catch a sneak peek film screening of Le Brio at 5:30pm.

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Things to do, Film events

Marie Antoinette with Pastries and Champagne

Relive Sofia Coppola’s divine feminine fantasy of fashion, matrimony and hard partying in Versailles, France, starring Kirsten Dunst as the empress of opulence and featuring one of the best soundtracks of the 2000s. You’ll be pampered like royalty with a champagne cocktail and an exquisite puff pastry from Ladurée.

Things to do

Champagne & Jazz Party

The French do many things well—art, cuisine, fashion. Near the tippy-top of that list is, of course, their rich chocolates and smooth champagne. During Bastille Day on 60th St, take a break from all the rowdiness outside and head indoors to the eighth floor of the French Institute Alliance Française for a decadent tasting. You can try France’s most prestigious champagnes and pair the sips with European chocolates from Violà Chocolat and more mouthwatering bites. Velvet-voiced jazz songstress Chloé Perrier performs French and American songs from the 1920s to the '40s.

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Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Noah P.

Things to do

Summer in the South of France Tasting

Drink like the French do during this delicious wine, beer and cocktail tasting during the Bastille Day on 60th Street celebration. There are three sessions, during which you can sample vino from Sud de France, brews by Kroenbourg and a selection of cheeses and fresh baguettes. Best part? A ticket only sets you back $25. Done deal.

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Dan Nguyen

Things to do

Bastille Day in Brooklyn

Brooklyn (specifically Boerum Hill) throws a massive Bastille Day shindig, comprising live music, amazing food, cold beverages and a massive Pétanque Tournament outside of Bar Tabac. Teams will compete on the packed sand courts, while French-loving revelers watch and enjoy chowing down on bites from the booths of other local sponsors.

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Photograph: Courtesy J. Picasa

Things to do

Provençal Week

Get a taste of the south of France without ever leaving NYC thanks to this weeklong event that allows francophiles to try traditional French dishes and drinks, listen to live music from the country and snag free swag from 11 French restaurants.