Bastille Days 2012

Milwaukee’s most popular French festival returned for another successful run this past weekend. The East Town Association’s Bastille Days festival draws over 250,000 annually, and without a doubt they hit that mark this year. The 31st annual festival was blessed with good weather for all four days. The opening night run and walk, Stormin’ the Bastille, draw a record crowd that resulted in shirts and bibs running out well before the race began.

The festival is unique among Milwaukee’s many ethnic festivals in that it takes place primarily on city streets. Centered around Cathedral Square, the festival has vendor booths and stages on Kilbourn Ave, Jefferson St, Wells St, and Jackson St. The streets are a veritable bazaar during the day, and at night they become an extension of the taverns and restaurants that line them.

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