Bastille Festival

For the 5th year the French spirit takes Bankside by storm!

From petit-déjeuner to party fun, join London’s French-speaking communities and Francophiles for a memorable family day.

Bastille Day celebrations are bigger and better than ever with a Waiters Race, Artisan makers Fair, Hat show & Family Activities, Pétanque, Football de Table & Cycling, Culinary demonstrations & Food Market, Perfume Talks, Cabaret music and more ending in the Bal Populaire in Borough Market with live-music, theatrical spectacles, DJ, outdoor eating, drinking, dancing and singing.

Highlights include:

Traditional 14th July Waiters' Race, 11am - 11:30am
La Course des garçons de cafés.
Professional Pride - Cheer on waiters from local restaurants as they attempt to be the first to complete the course and win the trophy and the title of winner of the Bankside Waiter’s Race.
Métier Challenge - Following the Race, courageous spectators can test their ability at the Waiters’ métier and compete in the ‘Apprentices’ Race.

Park Street Fair, 11am - 6:30pm
Soak up the atmosphere of this little French quarter and take part in fun family activities, cheer at the waiters’ race, browse craft and brocante stalls, see the hat show and enjoy crêpes, tartiflette and Président® cheese while watching promenading performers and gastronomic films or finding out about the French in London.

Boules/Pétanque, from 11:30am
An introduction for novices and an opportunity for enthusiasts and aficionados to partake in the quintessentially French out-door pastime and most convivial of intergenerational national sports.

Chapeau Nouvelles Hat-making workshop, from 11:30am
An opportunity to be creative and make Surreal headwear from meters of French and English newspaper print.

Festival Finale Party, 6pm - midnight
Every Quatorze Juillet the streets of France come alive in celebration of the ‘storming’ of the Bastille and the birth of La République 1789. Once again Borough Market joins the festivities with live music, Bal DJ, street entertainment, outdoor eating, drinking, dancing and singing.

Stretching from the terrace of La Cave through Borough Market to Stoney St, the Bal populaire and les guinguettes bring authentic celebrations to Bankside.

Dress in the spirit of the day (223 years of high fashion and low-life to inspire).