Bastille Days keeps kicking, a block away due to streetcar
Once again, the Bastille Days festival will let the good times roll in Milwaukee’s East Town neighborhood. Only this year, some of those good times will roll a block south of their customary locations.
Presented by the East Town Association, the free street festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday in and around Cathedral Square Park, pays tribute to Milwaukee’s French heritage.
Construction and testing of The Hop, the new Milwaukee streetcar, has led Bastille Days to shift its main artery from E. Kilbourn Ave. to E. Wells St., a block south. Bastille Days is also moving its familiar Eiffel Tower replica about 100 feet south to the north end of Cathedral Square Park. Some Bastille Days activities will still happen on Kilbourn, including the Beaux Arts stage.
However, the route has not changed for the Associated Bank Storm the Bastille Run/Walk at 9 p.m. Thursday. Register in person between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday at the Deloitte booth at N. Jackson and E. Wells St. (Raceday registration costs $30, which includes a long-sleeved T-shirt.)
Get in a Mardi Gras state of mind Friday evening with a parade throughout the grounds. Look for mimes, buskers and street performers throughout the festival. But organizers strongly urge festivalgoers to leave their dogs and other pets home, s’il vous plaît.
Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans will dance several times daily Thursday through Saturday. The Carnival of Curiosity & Chaos will perform circus and sideshow arts at 6:45 and 8:45 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Musical headliners include electroswing duo Ginkgoa (Thursday), Extra Crispy Brass Band (Thursday and Saturday), Charles Walker Band (Friday), Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraiser (Saturday), Nwa Na Agbe Afrobeat (Saturday) and Alma Afrobeat Ensemble (Sunday).
No Bastille Days festival is complete without local chanteuse Robin Pluer, who sings at 7 p.m. Thursday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Taste wines from France, and elsewhere, at 8:30 p.m. Friday and 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $40 at the festival; these guided sessions are limited to 76 people.
The annual Waiters-Waitresses Race at 3 p.m. Sunday will feature servers competing in a test of speed and savoir faire.
Attend a French mass at 5:15 p.m. Saturday at the Cathedral of St. John.