Pop the champagne and start your Bastille Day celebrations early at Bastille Day Melbourne 2023 this weekend

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Bastille Day Melbourne 2023 is on in a new location, at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market this weekend. They invite you to swap your beanie for a béret and celebrate all things French in Melbourne. Read on to find out everything you can eat, drink and experience at Bastille Day Melbourne 2023.

Bastille Day Melbourne 2023

FOOD & WINE

A French festival wouldn’t be complete without a tempting array of food stalls selling French cuisine and some French wine or even some champagne.

 

On the Rue des bistrots you’ll find:

  • Le Gourmet Lemon
  • Frencheese
  • Orléans Mussels & Chips
  • Long Paddock Cheese
  • Posh Brioche
  • France at Home
  • La Truffière
  • A Taste of Paris
  • Saucissons by La Bastide

 

 

In Le Café you’ll find stalls from:

  • Motte
  • Kanelle Pâtisserie
  • PEUGEOT Australia
  • Park Lane Coffee
  • La Louche Crêperie
  • Choukette

 

 

Le Bar will quench your thirst with stalls from:

  • Festival Bar
  • Champagne Philippe Fournier
  • Grand Cru and Mates
  • Mind Spirits & Co.
  • Bordeaux and Beyond

 

FREE EVENTS AT BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023

On the programme are lots of free events as well as some paid ticketed events so there’s something at Bastille Day Melbourne 2023 for every budget. Among the free entertainment, you’ll find mime, dance, musical and circus performers on the Main Stage as well as roving throughout the festival grounds. Musicians Noria and the Parisians, Philippe the Accordionist, Vive la Différence, and Zilwa Tribe , Moogy & The Avant-Guardians, and Boum! Meringue will get you up and dancing. You can witness the skill of can can dancers both on the main stage and roving throughout the Queen Victoria Market sheds at Bastille Day Melbourne 2023.

Pre-schoolers and primary students can learn some circus skills courtesy of The French Circus School. You can even learn some French with free 30 minute classes led by the Alliance Française de Melbourne!

 

LE SHOPPING

There are also plenty of French and French-inspired products for you to buy at Bastille Day Melbourne 2023 this weekend. Stall-holders include:

  • Babel Books
  • Beju French Jewellery
  • Belite and Today is a good day
  • French Beauty Co.
  • Language International Bookstore
  • Susan Kerlan Illustrations
  • Zoé & Chloé and Co.

 

BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023 TICKTETED PROGRAM

We’ve divided the Bastille Day Melbourne 2023 program into talks, masterclasses and the walking tour.

 

TALKS AT BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023

At Bastille Day Melbourne 2023, there are talks about a diverse range of topics including the Olympic Games, art, fashion and the environment.

MASTERCLASSES AT BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023

There are also masterclasses where you can get involved and learn about fragrance, mime, fashion, cheese and wine and French spirits.

  • Masterclass: All Things French with Fragrance Hosted by fashion doyenne Christine Barro, you will be delighted with stories on the heroes of Haute Couture and expert instruction on the selection of a signature French scent, enjoyed with French champagne and festive macarons.
  • Masterclass: Mime by mime artist Rod Lara Learn all the techniques of becoming a mime from Rod Lara who has 24 years experience. It’s particularly special as this year marks 100 years since the birth of Marcel Marceau
  • Masterclass: A Taste of France – Cheese & Wine Enjoy an exquisite pairing of five artisan cheeses carefully curated by Gaetan from Long Paddock Cheese, accompanied by five glasses of meticulously selected wines by Ana from Voila Wine and Co.
  • Masterclasss: Tour de France of Spirits Led by Brieuc from Cerbaco, this immersive experience delves into the history, production techniques, and tasting notes, allowing you to deepen your knowledge and appreciation for the art of Cognac and Armagnac.
  • Masterclass: The Secrets of French Style – A Blue Illusion styling masterclass hosted by globe-trotting Catriona Rowntree and Blue Illusion’s founder and creative director, Donna Guest. They introduce you to their new ‘travel capsule’ collaboration; as well as share their tips and techniques of how to adopt your own unique sense of style, à la Française.

Bastille Day Melbourne 2023

WALKING TOUR AT BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023

Bouygues Walking Tour: French Icons of Melbourne Discover Melbourne through a French eye. Be prepared to walk a little and enjoy a few French touches along the way… L’Occitane… Christine… La Belle Miette… All senses awaken!!!! The tour will end with a glass of sparkling at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins in the Atrium Bar.

 

ONLINE PROGRAM

They also have an online program so if you can’t join them in person, you can join them online for a range of live crosses to France, in conversations, musical delights and more!

 

You can view the online program via this link

KEY INFO FOR BASTILLE DAY MELBOURNE 2023

WHAT: Bastille Day Melbourne 2023

WHERE: Queen Victoria Market, Sheds C & D

WHEN: 9am to 4pm on both Saturday 8 July and Sunday 9 July 2023

HOW: Just show up – or if you’re interested in a ticketed event, book you place ASAP via the relevant links above so you don’t miss out

HOW MUCH: Free entry, lots of free entertainment and some ticketed events, the price of which varies depending on the event. Plenty of French food and drinks to be purchased also.

 

For other events with French links happening in Melbourne, and all of Australia this month, check out our What’s on in July article

And if you’re looking for more Bastille Day celebrations, take a look at our Bastille Day 2023 article

 

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La Belle Vie French market: A French market in Southern Sydney this Sunday

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Taren Point Public School is holding La Belle Vie French market this Sunday. The 4rh edition of this French market will see stalls selling food, drink as well as fashion, homewares, art products – perfect to buy your Mother’s Day gifts. 

La Belle Vie French Market

TAREN POINT PUBLIC SCHOOL

The school has been a member of the Australian Association of French English Bilingual Schools for four years and the market is also in its 4th year. Previous years have seen attendance of 5,000 people at the La Belle Vie French Market.  

 

FASS

Francophone Association of Southern Sydney (FASS), a local not for profit group which promotes French language and culture in the community, assists Taren Point Public School in making La Belle Vie Market happen. It’s involved in supplying volunteers on market day but also in the planning and organisation of the market event from an administration perspective.

 

LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET
This year there are more than 60 stalls offering fabulous French products across food, drink, fashion, homewares, art, as well as a Citroen Club car display and live music throughout the day.

 

LIVE MUSIC: ‘ACCORDI-ng To US’ will play from 9am to midday and singer, Christelle Nativel will perform from midday to close.

 

STALLS AT LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET

 

French products for yourself and for others

  • A French Affair  – tea towels and tablecloths
  • Au Revoir Les Filles – Parisian-style jewellery
  • Beju – hand crafted European jewellery
  • Big on Hats – wide-brimmed French hats and the iconic beret
  • Canal Plus – French cable TV
  • Decathlon – French sportswear
  • France at Home – your French supermarket online in Australia
  • French Cargo – diffusers, scents, body lotions, décor items, linens, jewellery, scarves and so much more
  • Fora Studios – unique and sustainable products for the modern garden, home and craft lover
  • Funked Up Eclectic Treasures – french/vintage inspired and funked up treasures
  • Holala Paris – French Homewares, designed in Australia and handmade in France

La Belle Vie French Market

  • Janneys Vinney vintage
  • Jan Roach vintage
  • Kalaf Artwork – epoxy resin serving boards, serving knives, kitchen utensils, coasters and wall art
  • La Brocante’ with Kathy Finch – pre-loved, vintage, retro and collectable pieces
  • Le Van du Livre – French books 
  • May Clementson vintage – French homewares
  • Mo Resin – jewellery with artistic designs embedded with materials such as Dutch Gold and Silver leaf into epoxy resin
  • Mrs Flowers – flowers straight from the Sydney Flower Markets to La Belle Vie French Market
  • Oatley Bay Candles
  • Pottery by Pottier – pottery and artworks
  • 2nd Vie (previously Just Swiss by Chris) – sustainable items hand made using fabric sourced from local business or from charities: car tidies, cutlery holders, lavender bags that can be used and re-used around the house, out and about, in the car, or just for decoration.
  • Secrets of Eden – pretty flower crowns and headbands for the princesses in your life, and unique Macrame creations
  • Toothless  – hand-made tooth fairy pillows
  • Whitelaw & Newton Decoupage Trays

 

Food & Drink stalls

  • Alexander Roastery – coffee
  • Baguette Brothers
  • Bella Icecream Van & Jumping Castles
  • Byron Bay Olive Co – Marinated olives, sweet garlic, extra-virgin olive oil and tapenade amongst other delicacies
  • Carne/Ash Rotisserie – rotisserie chicken and porchetta, roast potatoes
  • Cheese on Wheels
  • Choux Patisserie – beautiful éclairs
  • Citrus and Sugar – lemonade and delicious juices made from all real fruit, nothing artificial and no preservatives. 
  • Crepe de France
  • Fils de Pomme – French botanical organic cider 
  • Frenchies Bistro and Brewery – French style beers made for Aussies
  • Frencheese – raclette

  • French Oven – fine French pastry made my hand and not by machine
  • Great Southern mead & honey – honey fresh from the hive
  • Jeerys Tacos
  • La Bastide – charcuterie
  • La Bonne Crepe
  • La Bonne Fromagerie – cheeses
  • La Gitana – paella
  • Le BBQ 
  • Le Saucier – home-made pasta, pasta sauces and fine finishing sauces
  • Le Secret Wines – French wines, characteristic of their region and from small family owned vineyards
  • Les Petits Gars
  • Madame Madeleine – Madeleines in original flavours including lemon butter, French Earl Gray, matcha, caramelised honey.
  • Madleine Bakery – freshly baked madeleines 
  • Pistou – traditional French deli foods 
  • Sacre Bleu!  (Caneles and Co)
  • Stephs Gourmet Foods
  • The Original Smoke & Spice Company – herb and spice mixes
  • Tonton Bread – bread and pastries
  • Wendy’s Crafts –  jam, marmalade & relish

 

Club stalls

  • Citroen Car Club
  • FASS Book stall
  • Meccano Modellers Association
  • Taren Point Public School Enviro stall

 

Want to participate in a future edition of La Belle Vie French market?

Contact Anyes McLean via email at [email protected]. Stalls must have a French connection, to ensure the authenticity of the market.

 

KEY INFO FOR LA BELLE VIE FRENCH MARKET

 

WHAT: La Belle Vie French Market

WHEN: Sunday 1 May 9am to 3pm

WHERE: Taren Point Public School, 

HOW MUCH: Entry by coin donation at the gate – all proceeds assist the learning programs at Taren Point Public School

 

For other events with French links check out our what’s on in April article (the what’s on in May will be online this Sunday).

 

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