East Town Association announced in May that Milwaukee’s beloved Bastille Days is returning this summer after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
Bastille Days will take place July 14 – July 17, with the Storm the Bastille 5K Run/Walk taking place the evening of July 14th.
Milwaukee’s popular French festival is one of the nation’s largest French-themed celebrations and is held each in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square Park.
The free four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors annually who enjoy live music, an international marketplace, French and Cajun cuisine, and roaming busker entertainment.
Kids Day at the Festival will be Saturday, July 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and includes a beignet breakfast, performances by the Milwaukee French Immersion School, Milwaukee Ballet’s Ballet Beat, and other family-friendly partners in the park.
The festival was named one of the best Bastille Days celebrations in the world by National Geographic.
East Town Association’s new Interim Executive Director Eddie Sturkey has been working with sponsors and partners to ramp up the Association after being almost non-operational since the start of the pandemic.
“Like many local festivals, we’ve faced significant challenges,” according to Sturkey. “But we are committed to bringing a more focused and refreshed version of these events this year so that we can build momentum and come back even stronger next year.”
One change will be that the iconic Eiffel Tower, which requires significant restoration each year, will not return to Bastille Days in 2022. However, the team is reviewing options on how to bring it back in 2023 which marks Bastille Days’ 40th anniversary.
Although slightly downsized, Bastille Days patrons can expect great food, entertainment (full line-up here), the return of the infamous Storm the Bastille Run/Walk, along with some fresh new twists to create an authentic French flavor.
For parking, BMO Tower provides eight levels of state-of-the-art parking and great connectivity to downtown. The structure is fully enclosed with high-speed doors and 24/7 onsite security. Entrance to the parking structure is located at 771 N. Broadway, one block from Bastille Days.
For more information about the festival, visit bastilledaysmke.com.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
