A French Fling in Fairmount

Bastille Day is one of our favorite events to celebrate in Philadelphia - who hasn't wanted to run away to France at one point or another? Luckily, the Bastille Day celebration in Fairmount indulges us on these whims each year.

We did say indulge. The neighborhood whips up French dinner and wine specials at participating Fairmount restaurants and bars, French film screenings, and the Bastille Day Street Festival, which culminates in the annual Storming of the Bastille.

From July 8 to July 11, it's like a mini fling in France.

July 8 - Fairmount French Fling Bar Crawl

The Belgian Café – 21st & Green
Bishop’s Collar – 24th and Fairmount
Bridgid’s Bar and Restuarant – 24th and Meredith Street
Jack’s Firehouse – 21st and Fairmount
London Grill – 23rd and Fairmount
Rembrandt’s – 23rd and Aspen
Urban Saloon – 2120 Fairmount Avenue

July 9 - Fairmount Goes French!

Have a French dinner and then prepare for an evening of cinema with the kids. Mugshots will be showing Beauty and the Beast at 7 pm and giving out free mini cupcakes with every French soda sold. The Eastern State Penitentiary will show Pepe Le Pew cartoons and the Hunchback of Notre Dame from 8 pm on.

July 10 - Bastille Day Street Festival

Tour the Bastille, watch the Fairmount Pet Shoppe Parade at 2 pm and the Tricycle Tour de France at 3 pm, and check out the many exhibits on Fairmount - including a selection of French books and wine and cheese tips. At 5:15 pm, there will be a Costume Contest.

Then, at 5:30 pm, it's time for the Storming of the Bastille. This year's Marie Antoinette will be played by Terry McNally, co-owner of London Grill. She'll declare "Let them eat Tastykake!" as thousands of Butterscotch Krimpet Tastykakes are sent flying into the crowd. Ah, a little bit of Philadelphia influence at last.

July 11 - French Champagne Brunch

Don't miss the French Champagne Brunch, an ode to all of your French-inspired favorites that you regularly brunch on, and try a bloody "Marie" at London Grill.

[photo credit: Eastern State Penitentiary]