Bastille Day Activities for Families in the DC Area

Grab a snack at Cafe La Ruche along the C&O Canal in Georgetown and then take a historic Canal Boat Ride – kids 3 and under ride free, everyone else is just $5. You and the kids’ will relax as the boat is pulled by mules and rises 8 feet in a lock. Park rangers in period clothing describe what life was like for the families in the 1870s.

Vive la France! – Free Bastille Day Party for Kids at Jabberü Bethesda. A celebration of French culture today from 6-7pm at 4926 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. For children ages 4 to 10. Space is limited, so register now for this free event by calling 888-951-1119.

Get A Sitter: FREE Bastille Day Party in Adams Morgan. Anyone dressed in red, white & blue gets free champagne at Napoleon, can play pétanque (similar to bocce), enjoy free live French and world music, there’s a French maid relay race at 8pm outside L’Enfant, free cake from Marie Antoinette and other American bastardizations of French history and culture. The fun takes place throughout 18th Street from 4-10pm.

For cheap, accessible crepes, my kids love the offerings of Crepeaway on L Street in the District (but don’t think we’re all cosmopolitan or anything – we call Nutella ‘fancy chocolate peanut butter.’) If you live in Silver Spring and won’t be venturing outside of th 209– zip codes today, introduce your kids to sweet crepes at Cup & Cone Cafe on New Hampshire, or savory crepes at Eggspectation in downtown Silver Spring. If you hit DTSS, let your kids play in the fountain outside while you drink coffee in the outside cafe and read Sartre, you total wannabe.