L’Alliance New York will be hosting a Bastille Day Event in Montclair, New Jersey on Friday July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at the historic Kip’s Castle. L’Alliance has hosted such events in Montclair since 2008 when a French Language community merged with L’Alliance New York.
On Friday, with an admission fee of $100 for L’Alliance New York Members and $125 for non-members, guests will have access to a French country buffet that will be prepared by Cuisine Boulud, founded by Daniel Boulud, a four Michelin star French chef alongside desserts that will be prepared by Montclair-based pastry chef Janelle Manning.
Visitors will also have access to wine, cheeses, jazzy music, French themed raffle prizes, and a chance to win two Air France tickets from New York to Paris. Friday’s Garden party will run from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
On Saturday, there will be a French Shopping Day that is free access from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and a French film screening of Leave One Day (Partir Un Jour) that requires registration to attend.
For the Shopping Day, residents and visitors of Downtown Montclair will be treated to French-inspired experiences throughout the town. From shopping and tastings to special offers, live entertainment, photo opportunities, and family-friendly activities, each stop will offer a way to celebrate Bastille Day while collecting stamps along the route.
Completed passports will qualify participants for a raffle featuring prizes from local businesses and a grand-prize drawing for a hotel stay in France according to Montclair Center BID, and Experience Montclair, with the participation of Atout France, France’s national tourism development agency.
L’Alliance New York is a non-profit French language and cultural center in New York City, that offers French classes for all ages and levels in Manhattan, Montclair, and online. With classes taught by native speakers, L’Alliance New York aims to create a vibrant Francophone community through education, arts, and cultural events.
Formerly known as French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), L’Alliance New York is a leading institution for French learning in the United States.
The Montclair Campus of L’Alliance New York offers French language programs for all ages, from toddlers to adults, and for all levels, from complete beginners to advanced learners, along with a range of cultural and community programs.
In September 2024, the campus expanded to include the second location of L’Alliance Preschool, a French immersion program for toddlers ages 2 ½ to 5.
Bastille day, known in France as La Fête Nationale, or Le 14 juillet, is a French national holiday celebrated on July 14. It celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération in 1790, which together marks the birth of the modern French democracy and the end of absolute monarchy.
On July 14, 1789, a swarm of revolutionary Parisians stormed the Bastille, a towering medieval fortress and prison in Paris. The prison at the time held seven inmates but was symbolic of the absolute power of the Bourbon Monarchy and the seizure of weapons and ammunition is considered to be the starting moment of the French revolution.
In France, Bastille Day is celebrated with a military parade on Champs-Élysées in Paris. Traditional balls, fireworks, community picnics and more are held across the country to celebrate.
“Together, these community partnerships extend the celebration throughout Montclair and invite residents and visitors alike to discover the unique blend of culture, creativity, and community spirit that makes our town so special while supporting local businesses,” explains Marie-Catherine Glaser, Executive Director of the Montclair Campus of L’Alliance New York.
