Background: Despite our name, we were not founded by the French. We know.. tre' scandalous! The French Revolution, however, did play a major role in the founding of Frenchtown, NJ. *Expert tip* Read all about it, and more of our quirky history, in out very own history book titled Frenchtown by Rick Epstein! Bastille Day has been celebrated in Frenchtown, NJ since 1997! The inspiration to celebrate Bastille Day stems from the tale of our founder who escaped the guillotine and made his way to America.

Bastille Day, also known as the national day of France, or la Fête nationale (National Day), is essentially the French Fourth of July. It is celebrated on July 14th each year, which marks the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution. This holiday is celebrated in multiple cities and countries across the globe, including France, where it originated, and often features military parades, meals, dances, parties and fireworks. We do it a little bit different in Frenchtown, as we tend to do naturally, but folks seem to enjoy it... and they keep coming back.