In France, Bastille Day is a day of revolution and feisty celebrations. In Sydney, it’s about all that too – but also, cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. In this year’s case it's also about cabaret shows, wine tours, acrobatics displays and a lot of live music. Vive la révolution!
The four-day line-up of fêtes and activités will be unfolding beneath the banner of the Bastille Festival, a free, four-day celebration of the diverse culinary and cultural regions of France, whose major festival takeover of Sydney’s foreshore will be happening across The Rocks to Circular Quay, from Thursday, July 17 until Sunday, July 20.
Unsurprisingly, foodies are especially well catered for here – expect French street-food favourites like raclette (melted, grilled cheese heaven), fresh crêpes, garlic-loaded escargot, umami-as-anything saucisson, and a selection of the nation’s most beloved cheeses. With more than 120 exhibitors and over 80 dishes on offer at this year’s fest, Sydneysiders can take a culinary tour of the land of love without leaving the 2000 postcode.
On top of all the food-based festivities, you can enjoy a tour of France's most reputable wine regions, all of which can be found around Circular Quay as part of the Bastille Wine Walk.
The celebrations will be soundtracked by a gloriously French line-up of entertainment: with 100 free shows popping up around the Sydney foreshore over the span of four days. Dance classes, jazz shows, live acrobatics displays are among the highlights, with two main stages and 12 busking spots scattered around the city’s pop-up French quarter. The appropriately risqué French Cabaret Night will be lighting up First Fleet Park on Friday, July 18, and a French DJ Party will be turning up the heat on Saturday, July 19. Paris, who needs her?
Joyeux quatorze Juillet, Sydney!
Entry is free, with some ticketed events available to book in advance. You’ll find the full program here.
Want more French-style fun? The new Hay Street Market is hosting a festival of French gourmet goodness from July 9-20, and Sydney's best French restaurants will be turning up the volume with French-inspired menus throughout the month. Armorica and Franca are hosting a weekend of celebrations to mark the occasion with special Bastille Day menus and live jazz on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, Bistro Moncur is hosting a divinely indulgent lunch, and Red Lion Bistro by Manu is hosting special Bastille Day dinner. Keen for a Parisian-inspired overnighter? Pier One Sydney Harbour is turning up the French with a caviar-crowned French feast (and $12 Martinis) all day on Saturday, July 19 – book a room upstairs to keep holiday mode alive.
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