Philadelphia undoubtedly has a thing for revolutions and no one (outside of France) does Bastille Day quite as well as the City of Brotherly Love. From the 23rd annual Bastille Day Festival at Eastern State Penitentiary to fabulous Bastille Day food/drink deals at some of the city’s swankiest spots, here are our top picks for embracing Bastille Day 2017 in Philadelphia.
Sparkling Soiree
Friday, July 14
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
210 W. Rittenhouse Square
Various prices
You can also start Bastille Day celebrations early in the Rittenhouse Hotel’s Courtyard with their Sparkling Soiree. The evening will feature $5 glasses of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Rose in addition to light bites from Lacroix like $1 oysters, caviar & french fries, and cheese & charcuterie selections. What more could you ask for?
aMuse
Friday, July 14
All Day
1421 Arch St.
Various prices
The French-inspired brasserie, aMuse, located inside of Le Meridien Philadelphia is celebrating the French Revolution on the eve of Bastille Day with $8 Petit Plates and $8 French 75 and Eiffel Tower Cosmo cocktails. The Petit Plate options include: Cheese & Charcuterie Boards (chef’s choice of two artisanal cheeses, two cured meats, mustard, jam, crostinis), Croque Monsieur (prosciutto, gruyere, sourdough), Kennett Mushroom Tartine (local mushroom duxelle, goat cheese, pickled shallots, arugula, truffle viniaigrette) and a deluxe twist on Philly Pretzels.
23rd Annual Bastille Day Festival
Saturday, July 15
5:30 p.m.
Eastern State Penitentiary
2027 Fairmount Ave.
Free
Head out to Fairmount for an hour-long reenactment of the French Revolution performed by experimental cabaret troupe, The Bearded Ladies. Emceed by Edith Piaf (performed by The Bearded Ladies Artistic Director, John Jarboe), the show will culminate with 2,000 butterscotch krimpets being launched onto the audience. Let them eat Tastykakes, indeed!
Update: Win a $500 TastyKake
We just found out that TastyKake has marked a few special butterscotch krimpets (and pies) being thrown into the crowd with special prizes. One of the Tastykakes is marked with a $500 prize. If you were on the fence about going to The 23rd Annual Bastille Day Festival, that’s a pretty sweet reason to push you over the edge. And even if you don’t win the big prize, there’s a good chance you’ll catch a yummy Tastykake.
