Bastille Day 2026 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Elene Zedginidze
503.223.8388, elenez@afportland.org

Celebrate French Culture at Portland’s Longest-Running Bastille Day Festival – Sunday, July 12, 1-5pm

Portland, OR – The Alliance Française de Portland invites the community to celebrate the 24th Annual Bastille Day Festival on Sunday, July 12, from 1 to 5 pm at The Redd, 831 SE Salmon Street. This free, family-friendly festival is the longest-running and one of the largest Bastille Day celebrations on the West Coast, bringing together French culture, music, food, art, local flair, and fun for all ages.

Festival-goers can enjoy:

• French-themed market,
• the biggest used French book sale in Oregon,
• delicious food and drinks from local bakeries, wineries, and cafés,
• live fencing demonstrations,
• a pétanque court for French sports enthusiast,
• on-site French cooking demonstrations,
• dance and zine-making workshops with the pros,
• hands-on children’s activities and crafts,
• booths from local French immersion schools.

“Bastille Day is about community, culture, and celebration,” says Elene Zedginidze of the Alliance Française de Portland. “Our festival combines the best of French traditions with the charm of Portland, offering an afternoon full of fun, learning, and connection.”

Like the U.S. Fourth of July, Bastille Day commemorates a revolution that changed a nation. In 1789, the storming of the Bastille prison marked the birth of modern France, embodying the enduring values of Liberté, Fraternité, and Egalité. Portland’s festival welcomes francophiles, families, and anyone interested in a unique cultural experience.  

Event Details:

• When: July 12, 2026, 1-5pm
• Where: The Redd, 831 SE Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97214
• Who: Hosted by the Alliance Française de Portland
• More info: https://www.afportland.org/cultural-center/bastille-day/

About the Alliance Française

The Alliance Française de Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings the French language and Francophone cultures to life through classes, events, and community spaces that connect and inspire francophones, francophiles, and French speakers across Oregon.

The Alliance Française, headquartered in Paris, was established in the year 1883 and currently has over 800 chapters in over 130 countries around the world. Started in 1933, the Alliance Française de Portland is the only Alliance in Oregon.