Celebrate Bastille Day at the French Market with Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc! Sunday, July 12 2:00-4:00 p.m. “LET THEM EAT CAKE!” EVENT at the Market Café
Tuesday, July 14 10:30-11:00 a.m. WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY at the Jeanne d’Arc statue
New Orleans, July 7, 2009---The French Market will celebrate Bastille Day twice: on Sunday, July 12th, and on Bastille Day Tuesday, July 14th. Both events, appropriate for the entire family, are free and open to the public. Come down to the Market and celebrate liberté, égalité and fraternité with your fellow New Orleanians!
Indulge in some Francophile fun on Sunday, July 12th, for a tongue-in-cheek nod to Marie Antoinette's infamous line that inspired the French Revolution, "LET THEM EAT CAKE!" for a complimentary cake and champagne party and costume contest at The Market Cafe's outdoor patio. Special guests dressed as Napoleon (MIKKO, Living History Project), Joan of Arc (Caye Mitchell, Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc), and a mime impersonating Marcel Marceau will be present; guests are encouraged to dress as these famous French people or any French character of their choice (Marie Antoinette, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Cyrano de Bergerac etc.). Located adjacent to the New Place de France where the Jeanne d'Arc statue stands at Decatur and St. Phillip Streets, The Market Cafe will serve special French menu items in honor of Bastille Day.
SUNDAY JULY 12TH “LET THEM EAT CAKE!” The Market Café 1000 Decatur St.
2:00-4:00 p.m. Pierre Pichon Gypsy Swing Trio plays French Gypsy Jazz
2:30-p.m. Champagne Toast and Le Marseillaise sing-a-long led by Napoleon and Joan of Arc
3:00 p.m. Complimentary cake served
3:15 p.m. French character costume contest*: OPEN TO ALL AGES!
********Costume contestants must come dressed by 2:30 to register for the contest. The winner will receive a gift basket of Francophile items from French Market retail stores valued at $200.**********
Tuesday, July 14th “LA FETE NATIONALE FRANCAISE” Place de France
10:00 a.m. Guests arrive at the Jeanne d’ Arc Statue at Decatur and St. Phillip Streets
10:30 a.m. Welcome speech from Cecile Andry, president of Council of French Societies (in French, then in English)
10:40 a.m. Olivier Brochenin, Consul General of France in Louisiana
10:45 a.m. Amy Kirk Duvoisin, Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc
10:50 a.m. Ken Ferdinand, French Market Corporation
11:00 a.m. Toast and singing of Le Marseillaise
Join us for breakfast* at The Market Café afterwards!
*Breakfast optional and not complimentary.
Honor Bastille Day in a ceremonial fashion with The Council of French Societies and The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc on Tuesday, July 14th. His Honorable, Olivier Brochenin, Consul General of France in Louisiana, will speak and lay the wreath at the statue of Jeanne d’Arc. Ken Ferdinand, Executive Director of the French Market, will offer a toast. Complimentary wine and champagne will be served to guests for the toast and singing of Le Marseillaise and complimentary cupcakes will be served by the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc, featuring Caye Mitchell dressed in armor as Joan.
To view parking and maps, visit http://www.frenchmarket.org/.
