It’s Milwaukee’s annual French festival, one of the largest French celebrations in the United States, and it’s tres magnifique! This FREE four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. In 2026, Bastille Days runs Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 12th. Set around Cathedral Square on the east side of downtown, Bastille Days begins with a 5K “Storm the Bastille” run on Thursday night and then plenty of live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica offering hourly light shows.
The event is known for the impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, and a variety of interactive and musical entertainment. Bastille Days also boasts a wide variety of some of the best restaurant vendors in Milwaukee!
Check out Bastille Days wine tastings where you can let your taste buds explore and compare delicious wines from around the world! A wine specialist will guide you through the taste test with selected wines from 5 countries. A separate ticket is needed for each tasting, and seating is limited to 76 per tasting. You’ll find all these tastings at the NE corner of Cathedral Square Park along Jackson Street – look for the tent!
The festival covers the blocks around Cathedral Square, including along Wells, Kilbourn, Jefferson, and Jackson Streets. U.S. 18 and Highway 32 actually detour around the festival, which is one of the largest French festivals in the nation. I-43/94, I-794, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Grab your beret and check it out!
Thousands line up for the “Storm the Bastille” 5K Run & Walk at Bastille Days in Milwaukee
Bastille Days Hours:
Thursday July 9- 11am-11:30pm
Friday July 10- 11am-11:30pm
Saturday July 11- 10am-11:30pm
(Kid’s Day Activities 10am – 3pm)
Sunday July 12- 11am-8pm
Bastille Days Entertainment Lineup:
Thursday, July 9th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
11:45 a.m. — Soul Patrol
3:15 p.m. — Wisconsin Space Program
6:00 p.m. — North Coast Orchestra
9:05 p.m. — Cold Sweat & The Brew City Horns
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
12:15 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
1:15 p.m. — The Last Bees
4:10 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
5:10 p.m. — The Panoptics
8:20 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
9:20 p.m. — Radio Radio
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Kevin Soucie
2:30 p.m. — Ced
5:30 p.m. — Octavio Arcanjo
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With John Stuart
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
1:45 p.m. — Patchouli
5:35 p.m. — Sweet Sheiks
8:50 p.m. — Christopher’s Quartet
MORE TO ENJOY
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
9:00 p.m. — Storm The Bastille 5K Run
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Friday, July 10th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
11:45 a.m. — Paradise Jazz Band
3:00 p.m. — Maple Road
4:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. — Milwaukee Hittaz
6:00 p.m. — VFunk
9:30 p.m. — Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
12:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
1:00 p.m. — Otherwise Normal
4:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
5:00 p.m. — One Louder
8:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
9:00 p.m. — Breaking Cadence
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Tenley Sheldon
2:30 p.m. — Tobias Cainion
5:30 p.m. — Tommy Odetto
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Jayx
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
1:45 p.m. — Texas Dave Trio
6:00 p.m. — Jerry Grillo With The Golden Gals MKE
9:00 p.m. — Listening Party
MORE TO ENJOY
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
4:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. — Milwaukee Hittaz
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. — Beth Stavros (Aerialist)
8:45 p.m. — Samba 2nd Line
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Saturday, July 11th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
10:30 a.m. — Kids/Family Day promotion
11:00 a.m. — Milwaukee Ballet
12:10 p.m. — Milwaukee French Immersion School
1:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
2:45 p.m. — Fashionably Late
6:30 p.m. — The Us Project
9:20 p.m. — Extra Crispy Brass Band
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
11:15 a.m. — North Coast for The Arts Rock Band
12:20 p.m. — WI Academy Music Rock Band
2:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
3:00 p.m. — Sound Therapy
6:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
7:00 p.m. — 5 Card Studs
9:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
10:05 p.m. — Viva La Drag Queen Show
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Hildegarde
2:30 p.m. — Miss Ingrid
5:30 p.m. — Emmitt James Duo
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Johnny Love
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
11:45 a.m. — Hanna Simone & Early Bird
1:15 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
2:00 p.m. — Robin Pluer
5:15 p.m. — Troubadours Of Rhythm
9:00 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton’s Irrelevant Orchestra
MORE TO ENJOY
1:45 p.m. — Navy Band 2nd Line
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
5:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
5:00 p.m. — French Mass at St. John Cathedral
5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. — Beth Stavros (Aerialist)
8:30 p.m. — Samba 2nd Line
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Sunday, July 12th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
12:15 p.m. — Big Al & Blues Howlers
3:55 p.m. — The Hungry Williams
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage – Viva La Revolution II
12:10 p.m. — Spill
1:20 p.m. — Winefred RT
2:30 p.m. — Video Sex Priest
3:40 p.m. — Louie & The Flashbombs
4:50 p.m. — Carbellion
6:00 p.m. — Conniption
MSOE STAGE
12:15 p.m. — The Style
3:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Lukewarm
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
12:10 p.m. — Hildegarde
2:15 p.m. — Robin Pluer
4:30 p.m. — Valley Fox
MORE TO ENJOY
11:00 a.m. — Milwaukee Frenchies
1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
Bastille Days Address:
825 N. Jefferson Street/Cathedral Square
Milwaukee, WI 53202 Website
Calendar of Events
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Bastille Days
It’s Milwaukee’s annual French festival, one of the largest French celebrations in the United States, and it’s tres magnifique! This FREE four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors each year. In 2026, Bastille Days runs Thursday, July 9th through Sunday, July 12th. Set around Cathedral Square on the east side of downtown, Bastille Days begins with a 5K “Storm the Bastille” run on Thursday night and then plenty of live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica offering hourly light shows.
The event is known for the impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, and a variety of interactive and musical entertainment. Bastille Days also boasts a wide variety of some of the best restaurant vendors in Milwaukee!
Check out Bastille Days wine tastings where you can let your taste buds explore and compare delicious wines from around the world! A wine specialist will guide you through the taste test with selected wines from 5 countries. A separate ticket is needed for each tasting, and seating is limited to 76 per tasting. You’ll find all these tastings at the NE corner of Cathedral Square Park along Jackson Street – look for the tent!
The festival covers the blocks around Cathedral Square, including along Wells, Kilbourn, Jefferson, and Jackson Streets. U.S. 18 and Highway 32 actually detour around the festival, which is one of the largest French festivals in the nation. I-43/94, I-794, and Highways 38, 59, and 145 all bring you close. Grab your beret and check it out!
Bastille Days Hours:
Thursday July 9- 11am-11:30pm
Friday July 10- 11am-11:30pm
Saturday July 11- 10am-11:30pm
(Kid’s Day Activities 10am – 3pm)
Sunday July 12- 11am-8pm
Bastille Days Entertainment Lineup:
Thursday, July 9th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
11:45 a.m. — Soul Patrol
3:15 p.m. — Wisconsin Space Program
6:00 p.m. — North Coast Orchestra
9:05 p.m. — Cold Sweat & The Brew City Horns
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
12:15 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
1:15 p.m. — The Last Bees
4:10 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
5:10 p.m. — The Panoptics
8:20 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
9:20 p.m. — Radio Radio
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Kevin Soucie
2:30 p.m. — Ced
5:30 p.m. — Octavio Arcanjo
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With John Stuart
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
1:45 p.m. — Patchouli
5:35 p.m. — Sweet Sheiks
8:50 p.m. — Christopher’s Quartet
MORE TO ENJOY
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
9:00 p.m. — Storm The Bastille 5K Run
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Friday, July 10th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
11:45 a.m. — Paradise Jazz Band
3:00 p.m. — Maple Road
4:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. — Milwaukee Hittaz
6:00 p.m. — VFunk
9:30 p.m. — Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
12:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
1:00 p.m. — Otherwise Normal
4:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
5:00 p.m. — One Louder
8:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
9:00 p.m. — Breaking Cadence
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Tenley Sheldon
2:30 p.m. — Tobias Cainion
5:30 p.m. — Tommy Odetto
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Jayx
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
1:45 p.m. — Texas Dave Trio
6:00 p.m. — Jerry Grillo With The Golden Gals MKE
9:00 p.m. — Listening Party
MORE TO ENJOY
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
4:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. — Milwaukee Hittaz
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. — Beth Stavros (Aerialist)
8:45 p.m. — Samba 2nd Line
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Saturday, July 11th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
10:30 a.m. — Kids/Family Day promotion
11:00 a.m. — Milwaukee Ballet
12:10 p.m. — Milwaukee French Immersion School
1:00 p.m. — Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance
2:45 p.m. — Fashionably Late
6:30 p.m. — The Us Project
9:20 p.m. — Extra Crispy Brass Band
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage
11:15 a.m. — North Coast for The Arts Rock Band
12:20 p.m. — WI Academy Music Rock Band
2:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
3:00 p.m. — Sound Therapy
6:00 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
7:00 p.m. — 5 Card Studs
9:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
10:05 p.m. — Viva La Drag Queen Show
MSOE STAGE
11:30 a.m. — Hildegarde
2:30 p.m. — Miss Ingrid
5:30 p.m. — Emmitt James Duo
8:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Johnny Love
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
11:45 a.m. — Hanna Simone & Early Bird
1:15 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
2:00 p.m. — Robin Pluer
5:15 p.m. — Troubadours Of Rhythm
9:00 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton’s Irrelevant Orchestra
MORE TO ENJOY
1:45 p.m. — Navy Band 2nd Line
4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
5:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
5:00 p.m. — French Mass at St. John Cathedral
5:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. — Beth Stavros (Aerialist)
8:30 p.m. — Samba 2nd Line
9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Fire Performance
Sunday, July 12th
Educator’s Credit Union Main Stage
12:15 p.m. — Big Al & Blues Howlers
3:55 p.m. — The Hungry Williams
Gruber Law Offices “One Call… That’s All” Stage – Viva La Revolution II
12:10 p.m. — Spill
1:20 p.m. — Winefred RT
2:30 p.m. — Video Sex Priest
3:40 p.m. — Louie & The Flashbombs
4:50 p.m. — Carbellion
6:00 p.m. — Conniption
MSOE STAGE
12:15 p.m. — The Style
3:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill With Lukewarm
KILBOURN/BEAUX ARTS STAGE
12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. — Learn To Speak French
12:10 p.m. — Hildegarde
2:15 p.m. — Robin Pluer
4:30 p.m. — Valley Fox
MORE TO ENJOY
11:00 a.m. — Milwaukee Frenchies
1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. — Professor Pinkerton Presents
3:00 p.m. — Ginger Whimsy (Human Statue)
Bastille Days Address:
825 N. Jefferson Street/Cathedral Square
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Website
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Milwaukee, WI 53202 United States
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