Now that we’ve finally finished celebrating our birthday, it’s time to turn the spotlight over to France. July 14 marks the anniversary of the day troops stormed the Bastille and started the French Revolution. It’s a public holiday in France and here in the U.S. it’s greeted with French-themed street fairs, feasts, concerts, pétanque tournaments and more. We’ve sorted through the offerings and come up with our picks. All are free, except where indicated. Please note, some of the festivities take place on the weekend rather than on July 14.

Bastille Day on 60th Street
New York’s biggest annual public celebration marking France’s independence, this fête is organized by French Institute Alliance Francaise. It spans three Upper East Side blocks and features music, face painting, mime acts, culinary treats, a vintage car show, prize drawings, and performances. Among this year’s acts are Can-Can dancers, the Chorale Arpège from Martinique, singer/songwriter Benjamin Swax, the Franco-American electro/pop/swing band Ginkgoa, and the Hungry March Band. New for 2015 is a champagne tasting in FIAF’s Skyroom (tickets required) and free film screenings for kids and families.
Date: July 12, 2015
Time: 11am-5pm
Place: 60th Street between 5th Avenue and Lexington, New York, NY

Bastille Day at BPNY
Brookfield Place is getting a one-day French makeover in honor of France’s Independence Day. On this fantastical celebration’s agenda you’ll find music, French-themed storytelling, Veuve Clicquot sponsored lawn games, French lessons, a Ricard bar, a “Tour de France” spin class led by Equinox, French films, and much more.
Date: July 12, 2015
Time: 11am-6pm
Place: Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey Street, New York, NY

Harlem Bastille Day
Maison Harlem hosts this outdoor Bastille Day block party. Revelers can expect live jazz music, a petanque field, French street food and your favorite vendors from Sugar Hill Market.
Date: July 12, 2015
Time: 12pm-6pm
Place: West 127th Street by Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY

Bastille Day on Smith Street
The neighborhoods in around Smith Street are something of a Little Paris. Many French expats have settled there and set up shop, opening bistros, patisseries and other businesses. Bastille Day brings the streets in this area to life with a Petanque Tournament and an outdoor fair that runs on Smith street between Bergen and Pacific.
Date: July 12, 2015
Time: 12pm-6pm
Place: Smith Street between Bergen and Pacific, Brooklyn, NY

Brasil Love France
Brazilian-flavored dance party Forroteria is adding a French twist to their next soirée in honor of Bastille Day. In addition to forró, samba, and salsa, the Sunday night fête is serving up vintage French jazz à la 6-piece ensemble Carte Blanche. Also on the bill are Eliano Braz feat Davi Vieira and Vitor Gonçalves and DJ Agachadinho, who’ll be spinning Brigitte Bardot alongside Seu Jorge and Caetano Veloso. If you want to get your hips swinging in honor of French independence, this is the place to do it.
Date: July 12, 2015
Time: 8pm
Place: Salon Millesime at The Carlton Hotel, 92 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
Tickets: $12-$15

Bastille Day Celebration & Petanque Tournament
This is a sister event to the Petanque Tournament on Smith Street. It takes place on the street in front of Cercle Rouge in Tribeca and features games, food, music and more.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 12pm-6pm
Place: Cercle Rouge, 241 West Broadway, New York, NY

Kitsuné Special Bastille Day
Kitsuné, the French record label and fashion brand created by Gildas Loaëc, Masaya Kuroki and ABÄKE, is throwing this French National Day-themed soiree. Featuring a beautiful view of New York City, the line-up for the evening includes Chordashian, Antoine Karl and Hart & Air Zaïre. Be sure to get your RSVP in, dress chic and arrive early to ensure entry.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 5pm-10pm
Place: Le Bain, Standard Hotel, 444 West 13th Street, New York, NY

Bastille Day Festival at URBO
This free music-filled celebration takes place in the heart of Times Square at URBO. There will be food, drink, dancing and more. The evening’s entertainment includes Stephane Wrembel, who scored Woody Allen’s hit film Midnight in Paris, and French gypsy jazz band Avalon. RSVP required.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 5pm-2am
Place: URBO, 11 Times Square, New York, NY

Carte Blanche
After lending their French jazz stylings to Forroteria’s special Brazil-meets-France dance party on Sunday, Carte Blanche return to Joe’s Pub to headline a Bastille Day-proper show. The 6-piece ensemble will be gussied in their customary white silk and sequins to perform classic French, Latin and American jazz standards from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 9:30pm
Place: Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY
Tickets: $18

Rock ’n’ Roll Bingo Bastille Day Edition
According to Wikipedia, the origins of modern-day bingo can be traced back to France. It appears they were the first to read out the numbers and they helped with the design of the bingo card. So, perhaps it would be fitting to partake in a variation of bingo on Bastille Day. At this shindig you can expect prizes, free drinks, rock ’n’ roll curated by Twig the Wonderkid, and a special Can-Can dance contest.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 11pm
Place: Pinks, 242 East 10th Street, New York, NY

Bastille Day at Chez Oskar
Funky French Fort Greene bistro Chez Oskar is throwing a Bastille Day/17th birthday party. The festivities get underway at 6pm and include pentanque, burlesque, live music by Blue Dahlia and more.
Date: July 14, 2015
Time: 6pm
Place: Chez Oskar, 211 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn NY – 718 852 6250