Image from Eastern State Penitentiary

Today, celebrate Bastille Day in Fairmount with booze, supersoakers, and 18th century French garb. From 2pm til 6pm, the annual Bastille Day Festival takes place with tours of Eastern State Penitentiary, parades and fashion shows, food and drink from local merchants, and street performances.

At 5:30, the real fun begins with a reenactment of the storming of the Bastille at the Penitentiary, complete with a capture and execution of Marie Antoinette, and the tossing of 2,000 Butterscotch Krimpets from the tower. “Let them eat tastycake,” shall be the cry you hear, provided you are not too overcome by your consumption of the libations at the aforementioned Festival. It’s like we always say: A street party is even more fun when you get to show up dressed like a French Aristocrat and get free Tastykakes thrown at you from on high.

Afterward, local restaurants will be offering special celebratory food and drink specials. Vive la Fairmount!