• Hunterdon County Democrat By Hunterdon County Democrat 
    on June 30, 2015 at 2:40 PM

    Frenchtown to celebrate Bastille Day on July 11, from noon to night. This year's Bastille Day Fete is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association. (courtesy photo)Hunterdon County Democrat 

    This historic river town will once again drape itself in blue, white and red on Saturday, July 11, from noon until night, to celebrate Bastille Day – with a Frenchtown flare. This year's theme for the 17th annual Bastille Day Fete will be Paris a la Frenchtown. Celebrate Parisian café culture with Frenchtown flair.

    This year's fete is full of fun for the entire family. Get your face painted, enjoy a puppet show and play a little petanque on Bridge Street. Don't know petanque from petunias? There will be some experienced players of this French favorite on hand to give guidance.

    Parisian mock monuments/points of interest are the "treasures" for this year's Bastille Day celebration. Visitors can pick up the treasure hunt list at Meraki Int'l Folk Art at 106 Harrison St. and roam the streets of 'Paris in Frenchtown' to locate each mock monument/point of interest. Once all of the questions are answered return to Meraki to check your answers and receive a little treat. All mock monuments/points of interest, "treasure hunt" and map for coloring were created by M Daly of Meraki Int'l Folk Art, who was assisted by Monsuire (Mr.) Pig.

    Bastille Day certainly wouldn't be the same without the Stilt Walker and Mime entertaining visitors as they stroll through town listening to a variety of live music.

    The swinging sounds of Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra will be heard along Bridge Street all afternoon followed by Seth Andrew & Doug Miller Jazz Duo on the Book Garden porch in the evening. Freedom Art and Music will have live music and an art show featuring artist Kevin Von Holtermann in their courtyard on Race Street.

    Plein air artists will be found around the corner and along the river capturing the beauty and unique vistas of Frenchtown.

    Shops and galleries throughout Frenchtown will be featuring special sales, activities, food, raffles and much more. Madame DeFarge will be knitting away at The Spinnery and Man-E-Faces will be face painting in front of Sunbeam Toys. You might even run into Marie Antoinette at the Pirate Cupcake Truck. The Book Garden will once again welcome the River Union Stage Puppet Show to the backyard followed by a reading by author and artist Val Sivilli.

    The Bridge Café will offer Street Side FrenchVietnamese fare, such as Banh Mi, a delicious baguette sandwich which was born during the French occupation of Viet Nam, Early Bird Café will be featuring Crepes and other restaurants will offer favorite French dishes.

    Meraki Intl Folk Art Studio is holding a "Paris in Frenchtown" map coloring contest. Children, teens and adults can enter into the contest any time through July 11. Visit Meraki studio, and find art supplies and space to complete a masterpiece, during this two-week period, including on Bastille Day. Feel more creative at home? Bring it back, unfolded, and the work will be included in the judging to be held on Bastille Day, 3 p.m., at Meraki studio.

    Frenchtown was named after a wealthy French-speaking immigrant who purchased the land in 1794. Henri Mallet-Prevost was a Swiss fugitive of the French Revolution who ran to New Jersey to escape the guillotine. Since Prevost and other early settlers were French speaking, other locals began referring to the area as "French's Town."

    Bastille Day is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association and supported by the following event sponsors: TD Bank, Opdyke Lumber, River Mills Frenchtown, Stem Brothers, Schenberger Insurance, Golden Pheasant Inn, and H&H Transport.

    This year's Bastille Day Fete is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association. 

    © 2015 NJ.com. All rights reserved.


    Hunterdon County Democrat By Hunterdon County Democrat 
    on June 30, 2015 at 2:40 PM

    Frenchtown to celebrate Bastille Day on July 11, from noon to night. This year's Bastille Day Fete is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association. (courtesy photo)Hunterdon County Democrat 

    This historic river town will once again drape itself in blue, white and red on Saturday, July 11, from noon until night, to celebrate Bastille Day – with a Frenchtown flare. This year's theme for the 17th annual Bastille Day Fete will be Paris a la Frenchtown. Celebrate Parisian café culture with Frenchtown flair.

    This year's fete is full of fun for the entire family. Get your face painted, enjoy a puppet show and play a little petanque on Bridge Street. Don't know petanque from petunias? There will be some experienced players of this French favorite on hand to give guidance.

    Parisian mock monuments/points of interest are the "treasures" for this year's Bastille Day celebration. Visitors can pick up the treasure hunt list at Meraki Int'l Folk Art at 106 Harrison St. and roam the streets of 'Paris in Frenchtown' to locate each mock monument/point of interest. Once all of the questions are answered return to Meraki to check your answers and receive a little treat. All mock monuments/points of interest, "treasure hunt" and map for coloring were created by M Daly of Meraki Int'l Folk Art, who was assisted by Monsuire (Mr.) Pig.

    Bastille Day certainly wouldn't be the same without the Stilt Walker and Mime entertaining visitors as they stroll through town listening to a variety of live music.

    The swinging sounds of Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra will be heard along Bridge Street all afternoon followed by Seth Andrew & Doug Miller Jazz Duo on the Book Garden porch in the evening. Freedom Art and Music will have live music and an art show featuring artist Kevin Von Holtermann in their courtyard on Race Street.

    Plein air artists will be found around the corner and along the river capturing the beauty and unique vistas of Frenchtown.

    Shops and galleries throughout Frenchtown will be featuring special sales, activities, food, raffles and much more. Madame DeFarge will be knitting away at The Spinnery and Man-E-Faces will be face painting in front of Sunbeam Toys. You might even run into Marie Antoinette at the Pirate Cupcake Truck. The Book Garden will once again welcome the River Union Stage Puppet Show to the backyard followed by a reading by author and artist Val Sivilli.

    The Bridge Café will offer Street Side FrenchVietnamese fare, such as Banh Mi, a delicious baguette sandwich which was born during the French occupation of Viet Nam, Early Bird Café will be featuring Crepes and other restaurants will offer favorite French dishes.

    Meraki Intl Folk Art Studio is holding a "Paris in Frenchtown" map coloring contest. Children, teens and adults can enter into the contest any time through July 11. Visit Meraki studio, and find art supplies and space to complete a masterpiece, during this two-week period, including on Bastille Day. Feel more creative at home? Bring it back, unfolded, and the work will be included in the judging to be held on Bastille Day, 3 p.m., at Meraki studio.

    Frenchtown was named after a wealthy French-speaking immigrant who purchased the land in 1794. Henri Mallet-Prevost was a Swiss fugitive of the French Revolution who ran to New Jersey to escape the guillotine. Since Prevost and other early settlers were French speaking, other locals began referring to the area as "French's Town."

    Bastille Day is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association and supported by the following event sponsors: TD Bank, Opdyke Lumber, River Mills Frenchtown, Stem Brothers, Schenberger Insurance, Golden Pheasant Inn, and H&H Transport.

    This year's Bastille Day Fete is organized by the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association. 

    © 2015 NJ.com. All rights reserved.

    Click below to read about Bastille Day 2023 in Frenchtown, NJ.

    https://lovefrenchtown.org/BastilleDay

    Amusez-vous bien !!!