C'est magnifique! 5 ways to celebrate Bastille Day around Sacramento
Francophiles in the City of Trees can take part in Bastille Day celebrations worthy of the City of Lights leading up to the July 14 holiday (aka France's Independence Day)—including a magnifique farm-to-fork feast in Winters, a Placer County bike ride, a Paris-inspired footrace and street festival, and more.
Bastille Day Feast (July 12)
Enjoy a tres délicieux multicourse lunch at the historic Wolfskill Ranch in Yolo County at this annual benefit for Winters Farm to School, an organization that seeks to provide fresh local produce for school food programs. The leisurely day begins with a tour of the ranch and a variety of hors d’oeuvres, after which guests will be seated at a long farm table beneath a canopy of 150-year-old olive trees and served a number of French dishes such as summer vegetables Provençal and olive oil cake topped with plums and crème fraîche. $100. Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wolfskill Ranch. 4334 Putah Creek Rd. Winters. 530-795-6109. brownpapertickets.com
Bastille Day Party (July 12)
Don your stripes and berets and for this annual bleu, blanc and rouge-bedecked event hosted by the members of Le Club Français de Sacramento. During the evening, you can listen to Edith Piaf and bal musette tunes, enjoy a leisurely potluck meal of French fare, pick up wines and various handmade items during a raffle, and grab a glass of champagne while singing along to a rousing rendition of the French national anthem. $15. Saturday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Hagan Community Center. 2197 Chase Dr. Rancho Cordova. 362-0509. petanquesacramento.net
Bikes, Baguettes and Brie (July 13)
Celebrate Bastille Day with a Tour de Placer County during this second annual cycling event hosted by Casque Wines, which is located on the picturesque Flower Farm Inn property in Loomis. After the morning rides—which begin at the winery and include either a 25- or 40-mile route through the rolling countryside nearby—road warriors can gather in the tasting room for complimentary baguettes and creamy brie paired with glasses or tasting flights of Casque’s Rhone- and Bordeaux-style wines. Free. Ride begins on Sunday at 8 a.m. 9280 Horseshoe Bar Rd. Loomis. 652-2250. casquewines.com
Sacramento Bastille Day Waiters’ Race & Street Festival (July 13)
This “tray” magnifique event, which is inspired by the Parisian footrace that celebrates Bastille Day, returns for its fifth year to midtown and will feature dozens of restaurant servers in black-and-white uniforms as they speed walk while balancing a tray holding a bottle and two glasses. The race will be emceed by chef Patrick Mulvaney and will be followed by a street festival featuring accordion music, a mime performance and French fare like crepes. New this year will be a kids’ waiters’ race. Free. Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. L St. between 18th and 19th streets. sacramentobastilleday.com
Let Them Eat Cake (July 14)
Get a taste of the sweet life at this fundraiser held on Bastille Day for Sacramento Self-Help Housing at The Grand ballroom, which transforms into a Parisian café where you can bid on exquisite cakes from local bakeries like Nothing Bundt Cakes, Sweet Cakes by Rebecca and Selland’s Market-Cafe, and nibble on French finger food from top area restaurants. Bring in your own unique cake creation for a chance to win prizes like theater tickets or restaurant gift cards. The Gentle Cinders band will set a leisurely mood as you browse local artwork for sale or pose for a sketch by a caricature artist. Bon appétit! $50. Monday from 5 to 9 p.m. The Grand. 1215 J St. 341-0593. sacselfhelp.org
