New York’s largest public Bastille Day celebration is kicking off next week across four blocks of Madison Avenue. The street fair, put on by the L’Alliance New York, has drawn crowds of 30,000 people over the past two decades.
Attendees will join the celebration of the Fête Nationale Française (Bastille Day) through French culture, food, music and more! Here’s everything you need to know.
When is NYC’s Bastille Day festival?
The L’Alliance New York Madison Avenue street fair is happening on Sunday, July 13th from noon to 5pm.
Where is NYC’s Bastille Day festival?
The festival will take place on Madison Avenue between 59th and 63rd Streets.
What is Bastille Day?
Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789, marking the beginnings of a more democratic France. It is a national holiday in France, otherwise known as Fête Nationale Française.
NYC’s Bastille Day festival schedule
Visitors can expect everything from arts and crafts to dance workshops, exclusive film screenings to tasting parties, and over 50 booths showcasing French food and artisan crafts.
- 12pm: Bastille Day starts. Market booths open to public (Madison Avenue)
- 12pm – 2pm: Book signing Martine Visits the Côte d’Azur (Cannes Booth, French Garden)
- 12pm – 5pm: Fencing, Petanque, Soccer, Recess Games (60th between 5th and Madison)
- 12pm – 5pm: Photo station, make your own handprint, local flavors and fragrance discovery activities (Cannes Booth, French Garden)
- 12:15pm – 12:45: The Bathers (Les Baigneurs) Show #1 (Pop-Up Lawn)
- 12:50pm – 1:05pm: Welcome and Presentation of Ordre National du Mérite to Tatyana Franck, President (Stage at Pop-Up Lawn)
- 1pm – 3pm: Citroën Car Rally (60th between 5th and Madison)
- 1pm – 4pm: Paper Flowers Workshop (Pop-Up Lawn)
- 1pm – 2:30pm: A Taste of the Riviera #1 ( L’Alliance New York Skyroom)
- 1:15pm – 2pm: Dance Class – Salsa (Stage at Pop-Up Lawn)
- 1:30pm – 3pm: Screening of Jour de fête by Jacques Tati ( Florence Gould Theater)
- 2:15pm – 3pm: Dance Class – Jazz/Funk Fusion (Stage at Pop-Up Lawn)
- 3:15pm – 4pm: Dance Class – Ballet (Stage at Pop-Up Lawn)
- 3:30pm – 5pm: A Taste of the Riviera #2 ( L’Alliance New York Skyroom)
- 4:30pm – 5pm: The Bathers (Les Baigneurs) Show #2 ( Pop-Up Lawn)
- 5pm: Festival on Madison Avenue closes (Madison Avenue)
- 5:30pm – 7:35pm: Screening of Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe by Martin Provost (Florence Gould Theater)
Following the day’s festivities, the celebrations will continue at SummerStage in Central Park with a unique French music festival from 5pm to 10pm, organized by the Consulate of France in New York. Entrance is entirely free and no registration is required.
Learn more about Bastille Day in NYC at L’Alliance New York’s website.