Dig out your best berets and stripiest t-shirts, because your favourite Frenchies are back for the 10th anniversary Bastille Festival. This free, four-day fête makes its grand return to Circular Quay and the Rocks from July 13-16 with 70 pop-up restaurants, 150 shows, free silent discos, street parties and more.
Don’t succumb to this French affair on an empty stomach. You’ll find winter comfort at every corner of the Parisian Foodie Village at Customs House with fresh baguettes, croque-monsieur, raclette, crêpes, macarons and croissants baked daily by Infinity Bakery. You can also enjoy the crème de la crème of French cuisine and wine at the Chef Village, which will pop up next to the MCA. Think piping hot boeuf bourguignon, famous fondue savoyarde in a cob, and warming escargot and French onion soup.
Bastille Festival has lined up the perfect menu of Champagne, imported wines and mulled wine to accompany your feast. This year, you can once again go on a wine tour through France without the jetlag by booking a passport for the beloved 1.2km Bastille Wine Walk. You’ll journey through France's most reputable wine regions with four or eight tastings from Bordeaux, Loire, Provence and more.
To celebrate its 10th birthday, Bastille Festival is hosting giant French B-Days Parties in Circular Quay every night from July 13-16. You’re invited to sing, dance and party with French DJ sets and bands, cabaret hits and free silent discos in the festival’s newest village in Quay Quarter Lanes.
For a fancier French experience, you can book tickets for a French movie night at Le Mulled Wine Cinema with showings of "La vie en Rose,” "Marie Antoinette," "Ratatouille," ”Le diner de con,” and more. Enjoy dinner and drinks before or after the show with three unique Parisian terrace experiences at Bouillon l’Entrecôte (steak frites with all-you-can-eat French fries and secret sauce), L’Or (free French coffee) and East Circular Quay (Parisian restaurant takeover).
Bastille Festival is entirely free to attend from July 13-16, with unforgettable ticketed experiences from $20.