It’s been a while since Milwaukee had a weekend as crazy as the one we’re about to, with the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival landing squarely on top of Bastille Days’ annual post-Summerfest slot. To help you navigate the upcoming insanity, check out the full schedule for the Homecoming Festival here and keep going on this page for everything you need to know about Bastille Days.
The Bastille basics
The largest French-themed outdoor festival in North America (according to the East Town Association) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, with events running Thursday through Sunday. Everything starts at 11 a.m. all four days, wrapping up at 11:30 p.m. every day except Sunday, which shuts down at 8 p.m.
You’ll find the festivities in and around Cathedral Square Park between Jackson and Jefferson streets, and Kilbourn Avenue and Wells Street. You can find (or try to find) street parking in the area, and the cool thing is that if you’re near The Hop line, you can jump on board and get dropped off almost literally in the middle of the festival.
Failing that, festival organizers suggest using the BMO Tower at 771 N. Broadway. They’ve even set up a promo where you can book your parking in advance by clicking here and using the code “FRANCE” to get $5 off.
What to do
OK, so you’ve parked. Now what?
Let’s start with the food and drink because France is somewhat renowned for delicious things you can put in your face hole. If you want to go the authentic route, l’Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee serves up beignets (usually on the east side of Cathedral Square), Lagniappe Brasserie does the festival version of its garden-to-table thing, and Cream & Crepe Cafe is where you can get — as a fictional NASCAR driver once said — really thin pancakes.
You’ll also find plenty of non-French options familiar to the Milwaukee area, including Lake Park Bistro, Milwaukee Pretzel Company, Sil’s Mini Donuts, Peter Sciortino Bakery, Ward’s House of Prime and Cedar Crest Ice Cream. Deliciousness abounds.
If you’re looking to do some shopping, there’s an international marketplace that includes a vast array of items — from gourmet dog treats (you can bring your well-behaved pooch, by the way, although it gets pretty crowded) to personal-care products and framed art to fragrant candles.
If you’re a Thursday night patron, you also have the option to participate in Milwaukee’s version of the 18th century attack on the Bastille prison. The annual Storm the Bastille 5K run/walk starts at 9 p.m., and you can register online or right there on race day, although you might not get an event t-shirt. You can find more information about the fast start to the festival right here.
What to see/hear
No festival in Milwaukee is complete without music, although that’s not all you’ll get at Bastille Days. Can Can dancers, ballet demonstrations and drag shows are all part of the event, which sets up five stages to house all the different options. We’ll leave you with the full entertainment schedule below, but feel free to visit the East Town Association website for a full list of food options, marketplace vendors and general information about this year’s Bastille Days.
Thursday, July 13
Main Stage
- 11:45 a.m. — Paradize Jazz Band
- 3 p.m. — 7000apart
- 6 p.m. — Steez
- 9:05 p.m. — Something To Do
“One Call … That’s All” Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Sound Therapy
- 1:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 2:30 p.m. — Bath
- 4:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 5:30 p.m. — Foo Foo Dolls
- 8:35 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 9:15 p.m. — Radio Radio
Kilbourn Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Elevator Jazz Quartet
- 2:30 p.m. — B.D. Greer & The Gents
- 6 p.m. — The Katz Sass
- 9 p.m. — Undercover Organism
Beaux-Arts Stage
- Noon — TBA
- 1:15 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 3 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 3:40 p.m. — Door Peninsula Winery
- 4 p.m. — The Last Bees
- 6:45 p.m. — Kojo
- 9:45 p.m. — V-Funk
Madison Medical Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Kevin Soucie
- 2:30 p.m. — Jean Kaldunski-Hildegarde
- 6 p.m. — French DJ Chill - Aubrey Lee
- 9 p.m. — Kid Coolie
Friday, July 14
Main Stage
- 11:45 a.m. — Honest John
- 2:40 p.m. — Wire & Nail
- 6 p.m. — The Daiquiri Queens
- 9 p.m. — Extra Crispy Brass Band
“One Call … That’s All” Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Landline
- 2:15 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 3 p.m. — Elephonic
- 6 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 6:45 p.m. — The First Wave
- 9:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 10 p.m. — This Is It Drag Queen Show
Kilbourn Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Max & The Invaders
- 2:30 p.m. — Twila Jean & Friends
- 6 p.m. — Dianna Jones Band
- 8:45 p.m. — The Milbillies
Beaux-Arts Stage
- Noon — Lost Orange Cat
- 1:15 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 3 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 3:40 p.m. — Door Peninsula Winery
- 4 p.m. — Mambo Surfers
- 6:30 p.m. — Sugo
- 9:15 p.m. — Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys
Madison Medical Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Lilie Fouts
- 2:30 p.m. — French DJ Chill - Jayx
- 6 p.m. — Michelet Innocent
- 9 p.m. — Scott Berendt
Saturday, July 15
Main Stage
- 11 a.m. — Ballet’s Beat Series from the Milwaukee Ballet
- Noon — Milwaukee French Immersion School
- 1 p.m. — TBA
- 3 p.m. — Robin Pluer
- 6:30 p.m. — The Claudettes
- 9:30 p.m. — Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound
“One Call … That’s All” Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — The Falcons
- 1:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 2:30 p.m. — Audiochonk
- 4:45 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 5:30 p.m. — Superfly
- 8:15 p.m. — Madame Gigi’s Outrageous French CanCans
- 9 p.m. — Breaking Cadence
Kilbourn Stage
- Noon — Rob Knapp & The Soul Patrol
- 3 p.m. — Chris Haise Band
- 5:45 p.m. — Tangled Lines
- 9 p.m. — The Listening Party
Beaux-Arts Stage
- 11:15 a.m. — Paint & Sip
- 1 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 1:30 p.m. — TBA
- 2:25 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 3:40 p.m. — Door Peninsula Winery
- 4 p.m. — Rebecca & The Grey Notes
- 6:30 p.m. — Buckwild
- 9:15 p.m. — Extra Crispy Brass Band
Madison Medical Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Kevin Soucie
- 2:30 p.m. — Michelet Innocent
- 6 p.m. — French DJ Chill - Asher Gray
- 9 p.m. — Roxie Beane
Sunday, July 16
Main Stage
- 12:30 p.m. — Robin Pluer
- 2:45 p.m. — Hopelessly Devoted (Tribute to Olivia Newton-John)
- 4:15 p.m. — Esquires II
“One Call … That’s All” Stage
- 12:05 p.m. — Trophy Husbands
- 2:45 p.m. — Sunspots
- 5:30 p.m. — JOE 2.0
Kilbourn Stage
- Noon — Michelet innocent
- 2:30 p.m. — Mike Mangione
- 5:15 p.m. — Genevieve Heyward Band
Beaux-Arts Stage
- 11:30 a.m. — Paint & Sip
- 1:15 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 1:45 p.m. — Funky Chemist
- 2:50 p.m. — Learn to Speak French
- 4:25 p.m. — Door Peninsula Winery
- 4:45 p.m. — Oumar Sagna & Sindoolaa
Madison Medical Stage
- 12:15 p.m. — Genevieve Heyward
- 3 p.m. — French DJ Chill - Lurky
- 5:15 p.m. — Sam Ness
