Get ready to don your berets and embrace the best of French food, wine, art and culture as the renowned Bastille Festival, a Sydney icon celebrated for its French flair, is spreading its revolutionary spirit to Adelaide as a second location from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1, 2025. Known for transforming Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks into a vibrant celebration of French culture, food, wine, and art, this beloved festival is now set to bring its revolutionary spirit to South Australia.
While Sydney’s festival remains a July staple tied to France’s national holiday, Adelaide’s edition breaks free of the calendar to deliver a fresh, autumnal three-day experience in May at Festival Plaza. This expansion marks a new chapter for the festival, blending its signature food, wine, and entertainment with a broader embrace of Bastille’s themes of freedom, creativity, and community.
“Bastille Festival finding its second home in Adelaide is no coincidence,” declares Festival Founder and Director Vincent Hernandez. “With its passion for European living, its taste for exceptional wines and flavours, and its vibrant appreciation for the arts, Adelaide embodies the spirit of Bastille. We’re igniting that legacy, freedom, boldness, and pure joy through a thrilling fusion of food, wine, and art, perfectly matched to this city’s lively soul. Festival Plaza, with its dynamic energy and beating heart, is the ideal canvas for this May spectacle I hold so dear.”
A TASTE OF FRANCE IN THE HEART OF ADELAIDE: A WINE & ART JOURNEY, THE FRENCH WAY!
For over a decade, Bastille Festival has been a highlight of Sydney’s cultural calendar, drawing over 600,000 people in 2024 to savour authentic French cuisine, sip premium wines, and immerse themselves in art and entertainment. Now, Adelaide steps into the spotlight, hosting this three-day extravaganza where over 30 delectable food stalls await. From breakfast to dinner, you can feast your way through the festival, each bite a masterpiece. Imagine the sheer bliss of watching raclette melt into a warm, golden river before your eyes, or the perfection of golden-brown crepes, delicate, and utterly spectacular. From velvety melted cheeses to the seductive charm of decadent pâtisseries (pastries), this is French indulgence at its most sublime.
FRENCH WINE & CAMPAGNE
Wine lovers, prepare for a journey through France’s legendary regions, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Alsace. With over 15 exquisite boutique wines imported straight from France, every sip tells a story. The festive pop of champagne corks will echo through the air as you stroll, glass in hand. Expect thrilling collaborations with Adelaide’s boldest chefs, vibrant street art, spirited cancan performances, lively dance parties, and so much more, all woven into this celebration of flavour and flair.
ALL THINGS BASTILLE: CULTURE, ART, AND REVELRY
Bastille Festival is far more than a feast of food and wine, it’s a cultural odyssey. Over three exhilarating days, Bastille Festival will breathe vibrant life into Festival Plaza as a bustling French-inspired village, captivating all who step into its embrace with over 40 free performances. Envision markets brimming with treasures, artisan crafts, chic fashion, and sparkling jewellery, each stall a showcase of timeless artistry. The air will hum with a dazzling array of live acts, from the infectious beats of DJs and live bands to the mesmerising circus acts to sultry cabaret, mystifying magicians, blazing fire twirling displays, and theatrical marvels, all weaving a vibrant tapestry of wonder and delight.
Your Tour de France… Without the Bike! Wine Passports to Five Iconic French Regions
Wine lovers, unlock a world of flavour with the Bastille Wine Walk, your ticket to exclusive access and priority service at the festival’s wine bars. Featuring a premium selection of French cuvées (blend of wines), this experience brings five iconic French regions to Adelaide: Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Alsace. Immerse yourself in France’s rich culture, gastronomy, and world-class wines, all from the heart of Festival Plaza. Equipped with your French passport and a branded wine glass, dive into the essence of terroir (the environment in which something is grown shapes its unique taste and character) and toast to an unforgettable journey.
New to Bastille: Culinary Delights Paired with Five Iconic French Regions – Without the Jet Lag!
Indulge in a one-of-a-kind culinary experience at the Bastille Festival with the Food Passport. This self-guided journey invites you to savour the finest delicacies from five renowned French regions: the rich flavours of Bordeaux, the elegance of Bourgogne, the zest of Provence, the boldness of Languedoc-Roussillon, and the aromatic delights of Alsace. As you stroll through the festival, collect stamps in your passport and discover the stories behind each exquisite bite, all while being guided by culinary experts.
To enhance your experience, why not pair your regional delights with up to five exceptional French wines, each masterfully selected to complement the flavours of your food? A seamless fusion of tastes and experiences awaits every foodie.
Crackling Fire Pit Experience: Sip, Savour, and Stay Cosy
Winter with a French touch! Gather your friends around a crackling fire pit, savour authentic warm mulled wine, enjoy delicious bites from the market, and roast marshmallows while soaking in the cosy atmosphere. A perfect way to embrace the season, French-style!
JOIN THE CELEBRATION
Admission to Bastille Festival Adelaide is free, with ticketed experiences like Bastille’s Wine Walk, Food Passport and Fire Pit Experience available for purchase. Stay tuned for the full program, exhibitor details, and ticket information, coming soon at www.bastillefestival.com.au.
So, dust off your French phrasebook, gather your friends, and get ready for a weekend of French découvert (discovery).
