Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival 2013

On Sunday, July 14, 2013, from noon to dusk, Angelenos celebrated the true spirit of Bastille Day all over Los Angeles!!! Bastille Day is France’s annual tribute to the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, that helped spark the French Revolution.

Now in its 12th year the Bastille Day Los Angeles Festival produced by Pascale Fortunat’s Passions Productions under the auspices of the French Consulate of France in LA, many sponsors as well as awesome vendors from Crêpes Xpress Café, Tartine O’ Chocolat to specialty items from XX Xcessory Xtras to name just a few. Each year this festival attracts thousands and a myriad of French people in LA as well as other Francophones of all nationalities.

Held at beautiful Kenneth Hahn Recreational Park, the Festival entertainment was up to par with a variety of performers organized by entertainment director Patrice Jauffret, Master of Ceremonies Franck Amiack & Jillie Reil, artist check-in Bruno Tuzet and Guylaine Gamble and the wonderful sound team Allan & Michael Bell.

The event started off with the American National anthem sung a capella by Nivea Elisa Galan who first sang at the festival when she was 13 followed by Samsara 12-year-old French American who delighted us with the French Marseillaise a capella accompanied by the chorus of Plaisirs Champêtres and Yesteryears. Samsara later performed with her father Simply Johan a few Ben l’Oncle Soul classics and the ever loved Joe Dassin’s Aux Champs Elysées.

The French Consul of Los Angeles Axel Cruau made a brief appearance to wish a Happy Bastille Day and the whole day followed suit in a spirit of conviviality, fun, and good cheer for all in the true French spirit for all!

The traditional Waiters’ Race was a huge success and great fun and another highlight of the day was Titelle’s Couture mesmerizing show of the magnificent Marianne!

We were treated to nonstop acoustic entertainment throughout the day: from Glendalf the Magician, Excuse My French, Evyn Charles, French Cancan by Performance Ideas and Staffing, The Singer and the Songwriter, Gal Musette, PATjE, Sylvie Alba Jones as Edith Piaf, Tiare Nui Oro Tahitian Dance and three amazing LIVE bands Trapdoor Social, Peter Travino, and Cali Conscious.