French Alphajets of the Patrouille de France fly over the Champs Elysees avenue, with the Arc de Triomphe in background, during the Bastille Day parade in Paris, France, Saturday, July 14, 2018.

Francois Mori / AP Photo

It was a bit of an unusual Fourth of July in the District this year.

President Donald Trump decided to roll in a couple tanks, flew in a B-2 stealth bomber, and hosted a show on the National Mall for his special “Salute to America” event. But guess where he got the idea.

Trump was apparently inspired by a Bastille Day celebration he witnessed alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2017. “We’re gonna have to try and top it,” Trump said at the time. “But we had a lot of planes going over and a lot of military might, and it was really a beautiful thing to see.”

It was a valiant attempt at reproducing the spirit of what the French call the Fête Nationale or Le 14 Juillet. But Trump’s display of American military might didn’t quite match the spectacle of the annual military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Just have a look for yourself.

In any case, if you celebrated Red, White, and Blue this year, there’s really no excuse not to fête Bleu, Blanc, Rouge. Luckily, francophiles have a lot to choose from for Bastille Day this year. From crêpes to cabaret, here are some of the ways you could celebrate your joie de vivre in the District this weekend.

La Maison Française at the Embassy of France
4101 Reservoir Road NW

The Alliance Française and the Comité Tricolore are putting on a “gastronomic Tour de France” tonight at the French Embassy. It’s an all-out French bash with gypsy jazz, a silent auction, food from dozens of local restaurants, and surely a whole lot of wine. You’ll have to shell out $80 for tickets, but it’s open bar until 10 p.m., so it may well be worth it. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 11:30 p.m. Make sure to wear cocktail attire. You can check out pics from last year’s event here.

Frenchy’s Naturel
1337 11th Street NW

Frenchy’s Naturel in Logan Circle is celebrating Bastille Day all weekend with 25 percent off all bottles of French wine, and other food and drink specials. And starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Logan Circle eatery is hosting an all night happy hour on its terrace with French-inspired snacks like Brioche Grilled Cheese and a Cheeseburger Deluxe.

Bastille Day Block Party in Tenleytown
Fessenden Street and 42nd Street

Try the crêpes and profiteroles from Matisse and Le Chat Noir at Tenleytown’s Bastille Day celebration on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. You’ll get to listen to music, play pétanque, and of course sip French wine (or Orangina) at this family-friendly French block party. All proceeds go to Friends of Fessenden Park, a neighborhood improvement organization. It’s within walking distance of both the Friendship Heights and Tenleytown-AU stations on Metro’s Red Line. Tickets are $20 for adults and come with one free child entry.

Bastille Day Four-Miler
4940 Canal Rd NW

Take a four-mile jog with DC Road Runners on Sunday evening to celebrate the Storming of the Bastille. The race, organized by DC Road Runners, is on mostly flat ground along the C&O Canal Towpath.  It starts at 7 p.m. from Fletcher’s Boat House. And when you’re done sprinting, there’s a post-race celebration. But don’t expect any croissants or rosé—organizers will be serving Gatorade and bagels.

Bistrot Lepic and Winebar
1736 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Come get your fill of French chanson on Sunday night with Les Filles de La Bastille. This is your chance to eat fine French food while listening to classic tunes from Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Michel Legrand, and more. If you feel like belting out La Marseillaise, this is the spot for you. The show runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended.

Filed Under: Bastille Day, d.c., Embassy of France, events, France, weekend,