Back bigger and better this year, Bastille Festival is set to light up Sydney in July.
A dream come true for foodies and French fanatics, Bastille Festival is returning to Sydney between July 11 and 14 to bring Circular Quay and The Rocks to life with French feasting and holiday joy.
Celebrating their 7th anniversary, Bastille Festival is a free entry celebration of food, wine and art, held annually to honour the best of French food and culture. This year is set to go above and beyond to deliver celebratory food, drinks, family-friendly activities and brand new themed villages that will transform Sydney into French-style heaven.
The festival will see the return of The Parisian Food Village, located in the front of Customs House, which will be bursting with traditional treats including raclette, crepes, saucisson, fresh baguettes, soups and croque-monsieur. Festival-goers will also find The Gourmet Produce Alley (located beneath the Cahill Expressway), where you will find take-home gifts and treats like truffles, French linen, candies, mustards and biscuits, as well as First Fleet Park, which is the festival’s main entertainment stage, but will also be home to a carefully curated selection of French fusion dishes from fan-favourite restaurants, like camembert arancini, creamy mushroom gnocchi, French paella and even churros with French jams.
For a quieter scene away from the bustling crowds and food queues, wander your way to the Le Mulled Wine Cinema, an intimate outdoor winter cinema located on the grass in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring all of your film favourites including fresh popcorn, a hot mulled wine bar and other cinema sweets.
In case you needed another reason to make the trip, this year Bastille have doubled the size of their outdoor Christmas market – The Rocks Christmas in July Village – to include 22 Christmas chalets and a whimsical, festive village full of Christmas treats including gingerbread, freshly made crepes and waffles, French Christmas pudding and decadent hot chocolate. A yuletide wonderland for adults and children alike, enjoy all the warm and fuzzies of the holiday season as you indulge in French treats and wander through the lit-up stalls and chalets.
Bastille have also introduced two new villages for 2019 that are sure to be new favourites. The first is the Family-Friendly French Village (located in front of the Overseas Passenger Terminal), a family fun village complete with a stunning vintage carousel and a selection of food trucks creating carnival foods that are perfectly kid-friendly to excite the whole family.
The other new addition this year is the New Caledonian Beach Village, where Circular Quay will be be transformed into an island beach village for the full four days and nights of the festival. Set on the eastern side of the promenade between the ferry terminal and the Opera House, this beach village will see 28 tonnes of sand transform the Quay into island paradise. The island village will feature a cocktail bar, French-inspired island food, music and umbrellas and beach chairs to relax around the palm trees. There will also be a Kanak bar serving tropical rums with vanilla from Lifou, fresh coconut and pineapple cocktails and a selection of French rosés and sparkling wines. Also making an appearance are the world-famous, specially crafted desserts from KOI and Messina, and island visitors will also have the chance to play Coconut Pétanque – a unique take on the French game of pétanque, similar to Australian lawn bowls, and an island treasure hunt that all are welcome to partake in. The New Caledonian Beach Village is set to be a highlight in the French winter wonderland, perfect for those missing the holiday vibes of summer.
Held in Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks between Thursday July 11 and Sunday July 14, from 10am to 11pm, be sure to jump on board this culinary journey to France and prepare to feast – jet lag free!
