History

The annual Bastille Day French Festival brings together the French-Australian community to celebrate the French National Day. Now in its sixth year, the Festival brings a slice of the French joie de vivre to Melbourne in July through a variety of locally based French businesses and associations who are passionate about all things French culture, food, history, literature, and technology. Whether an expat living in Australia, a passionate Francophone or Francophile, or a family troupe looking for an exciting outing in the mid-year break, this is a must-attend event.

“The Fête de la Fédération on 14 July 1790 was a celebration of the unity of the French nation during the French Revolution. The aim of this celebration, one year after the storming of the Bastille, was to symbolize peace… After the end of the official celebration, the day ended in a huge four-day popular feast, and people celebrated with fireworks, as well as fine wine and running nude through the streets in order to display their great freedom.”