Get ready for a wonderful weekend – or make that wonderful oui-kend, as Bastille Days will bring France to the Fresh Coast for its 40th time starting today. 

Running July 13-16 in and around Cathedral Square Park, Bastille Days will serve up French culture, French desserts and delicacies, dancing, live music, local vendors across all sorts of arts and abilities, and even the return of the beloved Eiffel Tower replica, taking its spot once again at the festival after taking some time off for repairs and restorations. The four-day French fest will even let them eat cake – but in a positive way – by handing out free cake to the first 1,000 attendees in Cathedral Square Park on Thursday afternoon. Because what better way to start a festival than with free dessert. 

That's literally just the start of all the French frivolity headed East Town's way this weekend – so to help you make the most out of this festival that you can (or can-can), here's a guide to all the good times coming to Bastille Days this weekend, starting with the lineup of music and entertainment coming to the French festival's stages this weekend:

Entertainment schedule

Thursday, July 13

Main Stage

• 11:45 a.m. – Paradise Jazz Band
• 3 p.m. – 7000apart
• 6 p.m. – Steez
• 9:05 p.m. – Something To Do

"One Call ... That's All" Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Sound Therapy
• 1:45 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 2:30 p.m. – Bath
• 4:45 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 5:30 p.m. – Foo Foo Dolls
• 8:35 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 9:15 p.m. – Radio Radio

Kilbourn Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Elevator Jazz Quartet
• 2:30 p.m. – B.D. Greer & The Gents
• 6 p.m. – The Katz Sass
• 9 p.m. – Undercover Organism

Beaux-Arts Stage

• Noon – TBA
• 1:15 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 3 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 3:40 p.m. – Door Peninsula Winery
• 4 p.m. – The Last Bees
• 6:45 p.m. – Kojo
• 9:45 p.m. – V-Funk

Madison Medical Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Kevin Soucie
• 2:30 p.m. – Jean Kaldunski - Hildegarde
• 6 p.m. – French DJ Chill - Aubrey Lee
• 9 p.m. – Kid Coolie

Friday, July 14

Main Stage

• 11:45 a.m. – Honest John
• 2:40 p.m. – Wire & Nail
• 6 p.m. – The Daiquiri Queens
• 9 p.m. – Extra Crispy Brass Band

"One Call ... That's All" Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Landline
• 2:15 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 3 p.m. – Elephonic
• 6 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 6:45 p.m. – The First Wave
• 9:45 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 10 p.m. – This Is It Drag Queen Show

Kilbourn Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Max & The Invaders
• 2:30 p.m. – Twila Jean & Friends
• 6 p.m. – Dianna Jones Band
• 8:45 p.m. – The MilBillies

Beaux-Arts Stage

• Noon – Lost Orange Cat
• 1:15 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 3 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 3:40 p.m. – Door Peninsula Winery
• 4 p.m. – Mambo Surfers
• 6:30 p.m. – Sugo
• 9:15 p.m. – Reverend Raven and the Chain-Smokin' Altar Boys

Madison Medical Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Lilie Fouts
• 2:30 p.m. – French DJ Chill - Jayx
• 6 p.m. – Michelet Innocent
• 9 p.m. – Scott Berendt

Saturday, July 15

Main Stage

• 11 a.m. – Milwaukee Ballet's Ballet Beat Series
• Noon – Milwaukee French Immersion School 
• 1 p.m. – TBA
• 3 p.m. – Robin Pluer
• 6:30 p.m. – The Claudettes
• 9:30 p.m. – Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

"One Call ... That's All" Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – The Falcons
• 1:45 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 2:30 p.m. – Audiochonk
• 4:45 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 5:30 p.m. – Superfly
• 8:15 p.m. – Madame Gigi's Outrageous French CanCans
• 9 p.m. – Breaking Cadence

Kilbourn Stage

• Noon – Rob Knapp & The Soul Patrol
• 3 p.m. – Chris Haise Band
• 5:45 p.m. – Tangled Lines
• 9 p.m. – The Listening Party

Beaux-Arts Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Paint & Sip
• 1 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 1:30 p.m. – TBA
• 2:25 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 3:40 p.m. – Door Peninsula Winery
• 4 p.m. – Rebecca and the Grey Notes
• 6:30 p.m. – Buckwild
• 9:15 p.m. – Extra Crispy Brass Band

Madison Medical Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Kevin Soucie
• 2:30 p.m. – Michelet Innocent
• 6 p.m. – French DJ Chill - Asher Gray
• 9 p.m. – Roxie Beane

Sunday, July 16

Main Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Robin Pluer
• 2:45 p.m. – Hopelessly Devoted: A Tribute to Olivia Newton-John
• 4:15 p.m. – Esquires II

"One Call ... That's All" Stage

• 12:05 p.m. – Trophy Husbands
• 2:45 p.m. – Sunspot
• 5:30 p.m. – JOE 2.0

Kilbourn Stage

• Noon – Michelet Innocent
• 2:30 p.m. – Mike Mangione
• 5:15 p.m. – Genevieve Heyward Band

Beaux-Arts Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Paint & Sip
• 1:15 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 1:45 p.m. – Funky Chemist
• 2:50 p.m. – Learn to Speak French
• 4:25 p.m. – Door Peninsula Winery
• 4:45 p.m. – Oumar Sagna and Sindoolaa

Madison Medical Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Genevieve Heyward
• 3 p.m. – French DJ Chill - Lurky
• 5:15 p.m. – Sam Ness

Of course, in addition to all of the live music crooning through the air, Bastille Days will fill the Cathedral Square Park area with all sorts of vendors – from authentic French food to classic festival eats to thirst-quenching beverages to beautiful artwork and so much more. Here are the vendors you'll find this weekend at Bastille Days:

Vendors

Food

• Beignets Francais
• Bobalou Enterprises
• Catalano Lemonade
• Cedar Crest Ice Cream
• Chillwaukee
• Crawdaddy’s on Greenfield
• Cream & Crepe Cafe
• Immy’s African Cuisine 
• J.T. Catalano Corn
• La Cocina del Sur MKE 
• Lagniappe Brasserie
• Lake Park Bistro
• Laura’s Gourmet Popcorn
• Milwaukee Pretzel Company
• MIL-WOK-EE Asian Street Food
• Ouzo Got Dogs 
• Peter Sciortino Bakery 
• Saz’s
• Sil’s Mini Donuts
• Smokin’ Jacks
• Sweetly Baked 
• The Truck Stop 
• Ward’s House of Prime 

Arts and crafts

• 414 Milwaukee
• Africa Alive
• Akarim African Enterprise
• Amano
• The Amber Chamber
• Amber Treasures
• Ashwear International
• Asian Encounters
• Baby Alpaca
• Baraka Jewelry
• BG Hats and More
• Birdsong’s
• Blossom Candle Co.
• Bronzeville Collective MKE
• Chuck Senties Productions
• Clay Creations by Kayla
• Connect Chiropractic
• Cutco Cutlery
• Djenne Collection, Inc.
• Elegancia Designs
• Folklore Crafts
• French Imports Chez Gautier
• Giltee Apparel
• Happy Buddha
• Incas Andes
• Infinity Lights
• James Steeno Gallery
• Jiva Jewels and Accessories
• Joycoast
• Just Goods
• Kind Oasis
• Linny’s Artsy Fingers
• Magpies Gourmet Dog Treats and More Inc.
• Medieval Mapmaker
• Midwest Shores
• Mistura Timepieces
• MRM
• Muse Together
• Nourish Natural Products
• Pallay Craft
• Panache Jewelry
• Rhubarb & Ice Ltd. Co.
• Rose D’oro Inc.
• Say It Louder
• Shades of Fun
• SilverWear by Misty
• Splash Soap Company
• Thiocary Fashion
• Townsville Art
• TreeSun Crafts
• TrujiNaki Vogue
• TWWholesale
• Wander & Co.
• Wild & Precious Boutique
• XK Essentials

Looking to feast on all of those crepes guilt-free? Then sign up for the Storm the Bastille 5k, hitting the streets of Downtown Milwaukee on Thursday, July 13, in honor of the historic 18th century revolution. For more information on the event, click here. 

Bastille Days will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. as well as Sunday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more information on Bastille Days – including parking tips and more – visit East Town Association's website. And for more summer festival fun, click here.