Bastille Days
July 9-12, 2026
Registration is now open for the 40th anniversary storm the bastille 5k run/walk
Join thousands of your fellow community members for the 40th annual Storm the Bastille 5K Run/Walk!
Runners and walkers from across Milwaukee gather to commemorate the storming of the Bastille, the 18th-century French prison that sparked the French Revolution. This year marks four decades of Milwaukee’s only organized nighttime downtown run — and we’re celebrating in a big way. Participants will race through the streets of East Town and the Historic Third Ward on a timed 5K route before joining the party that kicks off Bastille Days 2026.
$40 Early Bird Registration is available until June 1st. Don’t wait, sign up today!
Milwaukee Bastille Days
Bastille Days, Milwaukee’s popular French festival and one of the nation’s largest French-themed celebrations, is held in Milwaukee’s Cathedral Square Park. The free, four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors annually who enjoy live music, an international marketplace, French and Cajun cuisine, and roaming busker entertainment.
Our festival was named one of the best Bastille Days celebrations in the world by National Geographic. Read more HERE!
Stay up to date on all things Bastille Days – Follow us on Facebook
Vendor applications are now open!
Interested in vending at Bastille Days 2026? We’re accepting applications for both marketplace and food vendors — apply today and join one of Milwaukee’s most beloved summer festivals! If you have any questions, please contact bastillevendors@easttown.com.
Photos by Melissa Miller Photography
Ride Le Hop to Bastille Days!
The M-Line stops in the middle of the festival grounds!
For more info regarding The Hop’s route CLICK HERE!
