Bastille Day, celebrated annually on July 14th, is the common English name for France's national day. Known formally in French as the Fête nationale française and legally as le 14 juillet, the day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a pivotal event in the French Revolution.
1918: First Bastille Day Military Parade on Champs-Élysées
In 1918, after World War I, the Bastille Day military parade was moved to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, marking a significant moment as Allies from the Versailles Peace Conference participated.
1924: First Bastille Day Ball in New York City
The first Bastille Day Ball was held in New York City in 1924, marking the beginning of a long-standing tradition celebrating French culture.
1944: Bastille Day Parade Resumes in Paris After WWII Liberation
With the liberation of Paris in 1944, the Bastille Day military parade resumed on the Champs-Élysées, signifying the end of German occupation.
1993: First Franschhoek Bastille Day Wine & Food Festival
Franschhoek, in the Western Cape of South Africa, commenced its annual Bastille Day weekend festival in 1993, showcasing the region's French heritage and culinary prowess.
2001: First Large-Scale Bastille Day Celebration in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon, commenced its large-scale public Bastille Day festivals in 2001, organized by the Alliance Française of Portland, drawing considerable crowds to celebrate French culture.
2008: Inauguration of "Le marché du 14 juillet" in Prague
In 2008, Prague initiated a French market, "Le marché du 14 juillet," to commemorate Bastille Day and symbolize the transfer of the EU presidency from France to the Czech Republic.
2010: First "Bastille on Bishop" in Dallas
In 2010, Dallas launched its inaugural "Bastille on Bishop" celebration in the Bishop Arts District, commemorating Bastille Day and highlighting the city's historical connection to the French utopian community, La Réunion.
2017: First Bastille Day Saloon Crawl in Carondelet, Missouri
In 2017, Carondelet, Missouri, added a new dimension to its Bastille Day festivities by introducing a saloon crawl, celebrating the historical French influence in the area.
2017: Miami's "Guinguette Party" Bastille Day Celebration
Miami's 2017 Bastille Day celebration adopted a "Guinguette Party" theme, drawing a large crowd of francophiles to The River Yacht Club.
2018: End of Bastille Day Celebration at Eastern State Penitentiary
Philadelphia's unique Bastille Day celebration at Eastern State Penitentiary, known for its theatrical re-enactments, concluded in 2018.
2020: Bastille Day Parade Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Bastille Day military parade, a rare occurrence in its history.