Are you a snotty aristocrat or revolutionary peasant? Take a french bath, throw on a little powder and head on over to the Eastern State Penitentiary’s celebration of Bastille Day this Saturday.
The annual event is a Philly favorite. You can grab a pitchfork and a some mob mentality to go after Marie Antoinette as armed troops storm the Bastille, re-enacting the queen's capture and sentencing her to the guillotine. Thousands join in the shower of TastyKake Butterscotch Krimpets. Of course this event occurs after Marie Antoinette (impersonator of course) declares, “Let them eat cake!"
Rock out to live music from the Philadelphia Freedom Band & Musette. If you're not into dooming royalty there’s also a Pet Parade, a Tricycle Tour de France and a costume contest.
The "storming" runs from 2 to 6 p.m.
After the festival, start a revolution in the streets of Fairmount. The canons sound off around 6:30 p.m. for the start of the after-party.
The neighborhood has some great places to eat. Places like London Grill, Jack's Firehouse, the Belgian Café and Rembrandt’s Restaurant are celebrating Bastille Day with Marie Antoinette and French-inspired cocktails and foods. The menus go french on Friday if you want to get into character early.
