Life
Bastille Day French Festival, Sydney: Revolution in The Rocks
It’s that time of year for the French and Francophiles the world over to gather and celebrate la Fête Nationale, honouring the Storming of the Bastille, the overthrow of the French monarchs and the subsequent birth of the First Republic. And what better way to celebrate than with a surfeit of good food, great wine and the company of friends at Sydney’s Bastille Festival?
Since 2013, Australians have been able to join the festivities with our very own Bastille Festival, formerly The Bleu Blanc Rouge Festival. Now in its 7th year, the festival extends over four days and brings together a large contingent of food vendors, winemakers, artists and entertainers across The Rocks, Circular Quay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal, from Thursday, 11th July to Sunday, 14th July.
From food to wine and movie screenings, it’s sure to be a vibrant event for all the senses. Here are some of the highlights you can expect to enjoy!
FOOD
Expect tropical desserts from another world and ‘Noumea-style’ ice-creams as the east side of Sydney’s spectacular Circular Quay is transformed into The Island – a Kanak Beach Village replete with a tsunami of sweet delicacies from Messina and KOI. There’ll also be a selection of island barbeque food to savour between rounds of Coconut Petanque (think lawn bowls on the beach), from prawns and pineapple skewers to roasted pork with coconut glaze.
Also at East Circular Quay, beneath the Cahill Expressway, you’ll find Gourmet Produce Alley. Home to a wide selection of gourmet delicacies like French Truffles, freshly baked macarons, fine sweets, fresh mustards and preserves as well as premium lifestyle products like scarves, jewellery and more curated by the Festival Team, it’s the ideal place to pick up a wheel of cheese and a fashionable accessory for the home, or to complete your winter look.
Don’t forget also to check out Customs House and the Parisian Foodie Village for raclette, crepes, saucisson and a whole lot more, as well as the French Food Fusion Village at First Fleet Park for a revolutionary food experience as some of Sydney’s top restaurants and brands – think Masala Kitchen, Passiontree Velvet, Mode Kitchen and more - experiment with their signature dishes and products by giving them a flavourful French twist!
WINE AND DRINKS
Where to begin!? If you’re after something a bit VIP, why not start with the French Wine Tasting Tour? This Bastille Wine Walk takes you for a 1.4km walk of wine, with priority access to each of the bars located throughout the festival. You even get your own eco-glass and passport to remember your Bastille Festival by!
We would talk about the Wine and Cheese Feast but those sessions have already SOLD OUT! Instead, make sure to take in the Champagne and Oyster Bar at the Sydney Harbour Marriot Hotel for exquisite oyster and sauce pairings to accompany your flute, explore the exclusive French Cider Bars, and try the specially-brewed boutique French Beers that will be on offer.
LIVE SHOWS AND EXPERIENCES
It wouldn’t be a celebration of the French without music and performance to enjoy your food and wine with. Across the four days, 15 acts across a wide range of genres and locations will perform including Nyssa, Full Bordel, Spencer, and Los Carmonas. There will also be Le Mulled Wine Cinema by Citroën film screenings, A Christmas In July experience, Alpine Ski Village by Club Med and more for all the family to enjoy!
Très amazing! And, for our Victorian Members, don’t forget that you can join in the festivities with the Melbourne Bastille Day French Festival – learn more about it here! The Sydney Bastille Festival kicks off Thursday 11th July and runs through to Sunday 14th of July.
For full event details and booking information about the Sydney event, visit the Bastille Festival website.