Not content with a single day of celebrations, Bastille Festival 2019 is in full swing celebrating French culture over four days.
Bastille Festival: Revolution in the Rocks takes place in picturesque Circular Quay and of course, the Rocks.
It’s a Feast’ival: a culinary journey to France without the jetlag
Bastille Festival is billing itself as a feast’ival. With 70 food stalls selling baguettes, stinky cheese, French cakes and covering specialities such as raclette and fondue from the Alps, Choucroute and flammkuchen from Eastern France and crepes and cheeses from Normandy and Brittany.
In addition to tradidtional French food there are some fusions to tempt your tastebuds such as camembert arancini, mushroom gnocchi, French paella, churros with French jams. In all there are 30 recipes exclusively created for Bastille Festival.
FOOD ZONES
Food stalls are separated into five distinct zones at Bastille Festival 2019. Each has a different theme.
Kanak Beach Village transforms Circular Quay into a New Caledonian Beach Village complete with beach sand, island bar, coconut beach huts, palm trees, beach chairs and tropical cocktails.
Food wise think island BBQ: prawns & pineapple skewers or roasted pork with coconut glaze. And if you’re thirsty a Kanak bar serving tropical rums with vanilla from Lifou, fresh coconut & pineapple cocktails – or even serving a cu-rated selection of French rosés and sparkling wines.
Plus for your sweet tooth, Messina and KOI have created ice creams and cakes in the island’s flavours especially for Bastille Festival 2019.
The Gourmet Alley at East Circular Quay beneath the Cahill Expressway is for all things gourmet. Expect to find gourmet delicacies such as:
- French truffles Authentic
- French cheeses to take home with you
- Freshly baked macarons
- Flamekush, or “tarte flambee” (a traditional dish from the Alsace Region)
- Fine sweets, including candies, eclairs, cakes and chocolates.
- Fresh mustards and fruit preserves.
The Gourmet Produce Alley is also home to a selection of premium lifestyle products, carefully curated by our Bastille Festival Team, including French linen, scented candles, beautiful scarves and handmade jewellery.
Customs House Village at the front of Customs House is where Bastille Festival had its beginnings back in 2013. Here you will find French favourites, such as:
- Raclette
- Crepes
- Saucisson
- Fresh baguettes
- Croque-monsieur
While exploring this Village, you’ll also discover a heap of French vendors. They will be selling everything from French tablecloths, framed and unframed art prints, authentic handmade Laguiole Knives, French and Parisian jewellery, French baskets and other decorative items to bring a little Frenchy chic into your home.
Customs House Village will also be home to a big stage, featuring a variety of musicians, stand-up comedians and even a few theatrical performances from local theatre groups.
French Food Fusion Village is located at First Fleet Park and is where you will find those French fusion recipes created especially for Bastille Festival 2019. Here are just some of the creations from some of Sydney’s most celebrated restaurants and foodie brands, including Masala Kitchen, KOI Dessert Bar, Passiontree Velvet and Mode Kitchen at Four Seasons Hotel:
- Camembert Arancini
- Creamy mushrooms Gnocchi
- French Burger
- Crème Brulée
- Oyster Bar
- Macarons
The Christmas Village in The Rocks is perfect for your Christmas in July celebrations. Think Christmas Chalets selling you delicious Christmas treats including:
- Gingerbread men
- Hot mulled wine
- Freshly made French crepes and waffles
- French Christmas pudding
- Fresh raclette
- Hot chocolate
TO DRINK
It wouldn’t be a French festival without wine and champagne and there are plenty of options at Bastille Festival 2019.
Wines at Bastille Festival 2019 come from 8 regions:
- 🍇 Alsace
- 🍇 Bordeaux
- 🍇 Burgundy
- 🍇 Beaujolais
- 🍇 Loire Valley
- 🍇 Rhone Valley
- 🍇 Languedoc
- 🍇 Provence
There is also a champagne and oyster bar at which Didier Chopin champagne will be served along with give different oyster and sauce combinations.
But there’s more to French beverages than just the grape variety. There are also two French Cider Bars serving FILS DE PØMME and Val de Rance ciders.
You can also try some French craft beers (5 on offer in fact) from the Craft Beers Bar.
ENTERTAINMENT
There is plenty of free entertainment at Bastille Festival 2019 from music to dance. The full entertainment program is available here:
https://bastillefestival.com.au/festival-map-and-program
PAID EXPERIENCES
Le Mulled Wine cinema will screen two films each evening of Bastille Festival 2019. The program can be viewed and tickets can be purchased here: https://bastillefestival.com.au/le-mulled-wine-cinema-by-citroen-2/
French Wine Tasting Tour
You can even take a French Wine self-guided tasting tour and collect stamps in your Bastille Festival wine tasting passport.
Tickets cost $27 for four wines or $47 for 8 wines. Both tickets also include your Bastille Festival glass to keep.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://bastillefestival.com.au/product/french-wine-tasting-tour-2019/
OPENING TIMES AND LOCATION
Opening Times:
Bastille Festival 2019 is open on the following days and times:
- Thursday, 11 July 2019: (10am – 11pm)
- Friday, 12 July 2019: (10am – 11pm)
- Saturday, 13 July 2019: (10am – 11pm)
- Sunday, 14 July 2019: (10am – 9pm)
Location: Circular Quay, The Rocks, Overseas Passenger Terminal
FREE with some ticketed experiences,
Don’t forget to check out our article about Bastille Day celebrations around Australia here.
How are you celebrating Bastille Day 2019?
