A Look Back at Bastille Days 2025
To everyone who celebrated Bastille Days 2025 with us, merci beaucoup! Because of your support, Bastille Days continues to be one of Milwaukee’s largest, longest-running free community festivals, and 2025 was one for the books.
By the Numbers
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Did you know?
Bastille Days and Storm the Bastille 5K generate over 77% of the annual revenue for our organization.
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Kids Day
Presented by Educators Credit Union
Families and children of all ages reveled in free Parisian-themed fun during Kids Day on Saturday, July 19.
Festivities kicked off with a delicious beignet breakfast, followed by hands-on activities and games hosted by local organizations like the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Kohl’s Art Studio and Educators Credit Union.
The Kids Day Showcase Stage featured lively performances by School of Rock Shorewood, Milwaukee French Immersion School, and more.
Photo by Melissa Miller Photography
Bastille Days at the Cathedral
Fest-goers not only had the chance to tour the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and participate in a traditional French Mass, they also enjoyed a special performance by Andrew Owen, tenor, Margaret Moyer, soprano, and Joseph Smaldino. The trio filled the church with a combination of French art songs and opera arias.
Bastille Days Cake
Provided by Metro Market
For the sixth year, Metro Market Shorewood’s Bakery Manager, Kevin Craig, created an eleven-layer cake showcasing a journey from vineyards to city storefronts, topped with a whimsical hot air balloon to represent life from farm to city.
The finished masterpiece, accompanied by several sheet cakes, was unveiled on opening day and enjoyed by the first 1,000 attendees.
Bastille Days Drag Show
Provided by Milwaukee Pride
The Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee 2024 nominated Bastille Days Drag Show returned to the “One Call That’s All” Gruber Law Offices Stage for its fourth year. This year’s show was presented by Milwaukee Pride with help from some of our friends at THIS IS IT!, who presented the show for three years prior to their closing in spring of 2025.
Alliance Française de Milwaukee
Adding French flair to the festival was the Alliance Française de Milwaukee. The organization hosted daily French lessons at the Beaux Arts Stage and welcomed fest-goers to their cultural tent to browse French literature and enjoy fresh beignets.
A special thank you to MSOE for generously allowing Bastille Days to use the Walter Schroeder Library Commons for the Beaux Arts Stage.
Merci, 2025 Sponsors
Thank you to the City of Milwaukee and local businesses for lighting the skyline, the Milwaukee Police Department for keeping our event safe and everyone who helps make this celebration possible.
Find more festival photos on our Facebook page.
We’re thrilled for next year’s fête. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when we announce dates for Bastille Days 2026!
