THE BASTILLE Day Festival returned to Forbury Gardens last weekend celebrating the people and culture of France.
With stalls offering French cuisine such as crepes, cheese, and wine, as well traditional performances of music and dancing, the event was a buffet of offerings showcasing the best from La Belle France.
Élodie Siby performed live, lending her voice to a number of assured covers, including a particularly effortless rendition of ABBA’s The Winner Takes it All, and was joined by Maloé Bautista and French Cancan from The Bellyfairies.
Vincent Valere, one of the founders and organisers of the annual event, said that the event had a good response from attendees: “The morning was a bit complicated with the rain, but after that everything went great.
“I think Bastille Day is becoming well-established in Reading, now; it was very crowded.”
He continued: “With the celebration of an event going back to 1789, we definitely try to make it traditional here in Reading, as we have for 11 years now.”
While he is looking forward to resting after organising the event, Mr Valere also said he was looking ahead to future events.
“We are looking to make another event which is less focused on the traditional, which people ask me often to think about, so I will be working on that.”
