Your D.C. Weekend: Bastille Day parties, teas and tours
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Toast to Bastille Day at the French Embassy. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Grab your beret and rosé — Bastille Day is Monday, but French festivities are happening all weekend.
Why it matters: D.C. goes big for Bastille between our French expats and Francophiles.
🔜 Pro tip: Many of the events are ticketed and may sell out, book tout suite.
🍷 Bastille Summer Soirée at the Embassy: Party like a diplomat at this chic party with fine wines, a "culinary tour de force," and live music under the stars.
- Embassy of France | Fri, 6–10:30pm
- Tickets: $140
🫖 Moulin Rouge Afternoon Tea: Sip French tea with sweet and savory bites, live Can-Can shows, and optional Veuve pours (+$20).
- Bistro Du Jour Capitol Hill | Fri-Sun, 2:30–4:30pm
- Book on Tock or OpenTable: $90 pp
🪗 Bastille Day at the Park: The annual family-friendly celebration includes pétanque, pastries, trivia and accordion music.
- Fessenden Park, Tenleytown | Sat, 2–4pm
- Tickets: $5
🌭 Pastis Bastille Weekend: Head to Union Market's bistro for raclette, fancy hot dogs, and special rosés and Champagnes.
- Sunday bonus: Fresh-shucked oysters and Magnum rosé tastings with San Tropez-based winemaker Minuty (12–3pm).
- Pastis | Sat-Mon, All day
- Free reservations and walk-ins
🦪 Bleu, Blanc, Rouge at Café Riggs: Head to the swanky Penn Quarter hotel for a Parisian garden party. On tap: A Whispering Angel rosé garden, oyster and crêpe stations, and sweets galore.
- Riggs Washington DC | Mon, 6–9pm
- Tickets: $80
🚶♀️ Bastille Day Tour: Join Alliance Française for a French-themed historical walking tour that ends with Champagne and DJ tunes.
- Lafayette Square → Alliance Française | Mon, 5–9pm
- Tickets: $29
More fun things to do this weekend
🥥 The Piña Colada Festival returns to all DMV Colada Shops Thursday through Aug 3. Head to a tropical rooftop launch party at the 14th Street location with coconut-y drinks and DJ tunes (tickets $25).
🎶 Flashband debuts at The Atlantis on Saturday with "2000s Remixed," a one-night-only event featuring eight new bands performing creative mashups and reimagined hits from the 2000s (tickets $32.50).
💃 Romantasy meets dance party at Culture House DC in Southwest for A Ball of Thorns and Roses on Saturday. Pro dancers show off faerie-style performances before the public joins in on the fun — faerie wine included (tickets $66).
🥋 Fighters and fans — the DC Martial Arts History Showdown goes down Saturday at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where local competitors spar with colorful stories (free tickets).