Bastille Days and the Milwaukee Art Museum Celebrate French Culture in July

Milwaukee, WI – June 13, 2022 – East Town Association’s Bastille Days returns on July 14-17 to the joy of local Francophiles. The four-day festival returns with great food, entertainment and the popular Storm the Bastille 5K Run/Walk. To add to the global French flavor, the festival is partnering with the Milwaukee Art Museum which will host a Streets of Paris celebration of art, film and culture that same weekend.

Storm the Bastille 5K Run/Walk 

Bastille Days’ festivities kick off with the Storm the Bastille 5k on July 14. Thanks to presenting sponsor Associated Bank, participants will run or walk the route through Downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward to commemorate the storming of the Bastille, the 18th-century French prison that sparked the French Revolution. Register here and you can also choose to donate towards helping bring back the Eiffel Tower for next year’s 40^thAnniversary event.

Ooh La La Lots of Food, Music and Performances 

Festivalgoers can enjoy roaming street performers as well as Bastille Day’s Marketplace and street musician area, sponsored by Madison Medical or celebrate your love by placing a padlock on the popular Love Locks sculpture.  A Kids Day on July 16 will feature a variety of activities including a Beignet Breakfast, French lessons, performances from the Milwaukee Ballet and activities at the Kohl’s Art Studio.

The Educators Credit Union Main Stage and Gruber Law Offices “One Call…That’s All” stage will offer a diverse entertainment line-up with highlights including Bastille Days chanteuse extraordinaire Robin Pluer, two-time Grammy winner Terence Simien and the Zydeco Experience as well as the popular Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCan Dancers. Returning fan food favorites include Beignets Francais, Lake Park Bistro and Lagniappe Brasserie, and Crème & Crepe Café as well as new additions including Crawdaddy’s on Greenfield, Milwaukee Pretzel Company, and Smokin’ Jack’s BBQ. Door Peninsula Winery will sponsor tastings throughout the event.

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist will offer tours, Coffee in the Garden, a free concert featuring historic pipe organics and sacred vocal music by French composers as well as a Friday Candlelight prayer.  Visit https://www.easttown.com/bastille-days/ for more info.

Streets of Paris at the Milwaukee Art Museum 

From July 14 to 17, experience the joie de vivre of Paris and celebrate French-speaking cultures from across the globe at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Streets of Paris event.

Inspired by the Museum’s current exhibition Always New: The Posters of Jules Chéret, which explores the work of the French lithographer and father of the modern poster, this celebration of global francophone culture includes a screening of the documentary Myth of a Colorblind France presented in partnership with Black Lens: A Pillar of Milwaukee Film; an outdoor beer garden; storytelling, music, and dance performances; gallery tours; hands-on art-making; and free Museum admission on Friday, July 15, from 5 to 8 p.m.

See the full event schedule and start planning your Streets of Paris visit on the Museum website.

Supporting sponsorship for Streets of Paris is provided by PNC Financial Services and Stevens Point Brewery.

About Bastille Days  

Bastille Days is presented by the East Town Association, Inc., a nonprofit downtown business organization that is fully funded through event sponsorships, sales, membership fees and donations. This event serves as the main fundraiser for East Town Association and helps promote the eastern portion of downtown Milwaukee and highlights the many businesses in the area. Bastille Days is sponsored by: Bud Light, Educators Credit Union, Madison Medical, Gruber Law Offices, Saz’s Hospitality Group, Badger Liquor, Door Peninsula Winery and Pepsi. Community Partners include: Milwaukee County Parks, Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee, Events by Design, Swarmm Events, Zoy Begos, MSOE and STIR Advertising & Integrated Messaging.

About Milwaukee Art Museum 

The Milwaukee Art Museum welcomes people from throughout the community and the world to find themselves and lose themselves in art, creativity and culture. At any one time, visitors can experience over 2,500 works on view within the Museum’s collection galleries and three ever-changing exhibition spaces; participate in engaging programming; and explore the one-of-a-kind spaces across the 24-acre lakefront campus. The iconic architecture brings together structures designed by Eero Saarinen, David Kahler and Santiago Calatrava. Famous for its moving Burke Brise Soleil, the Museum serves as a symbol for Milwaukee pride and connects the shores of Lake Michigan to the city’s bustling downtown.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.