Battle re-enactment group to join Bastille Reading activities
This year’s Bastille Reading festival is set to have more attractions than ever.
Battle re-enactment group Historia Normannis will be performing at the event at the Forbury Gardens on July 13 and 14, alongside a host of singers, dancers and children’s games and activities. As ever, all the entertainments are free.
There will also be new food and drink providers along with some of the more familiar ones.
Bastille Day Reading, which has been an annual event since 2012, is supported by Reading BID and has become an increasingly popular date in the town’s cultural diary.
Those who have booked to come along so far include:
- Lila Kitchen
- Wolseley Street Bakery
- Taste of France
- Meryenda Mina (crepes and Asian food)
- Blazerfire (Jamaican food)
- Katie & Samantha who will serve biscuits and other items
Performers booked to come include Baron Black, who will sing a mix of French, Caribbean and Reggae songs, Sandy Madsen Meye, Mathilde Wierciock, MAloé, Elodie Siby and there will be French can-can and songs from a local choir.
New members of the team - Pauline Bravet, Antoine Ninou Chabran, Lineda Djotni - have joined the existing volunteers Vincent Valere (founder), Boubacar Dembele and Alan Bunce.
Throughout both days free family-centred games and activities will be laid on.
Founder of Bastille Reading Vincent Valere said: “We have grown the event so much, people now come to us and ask to take part.
“Historia Normannis will add something totally new and they are one of a number of newcomers this year. It is a great family event with lots a free activities and performances so people can drop in and out throughout the day.
“There’s always such a diverse crowd, having fun and taking part in a totally diverse range of things to do.
“Once again we have had great support from Alexa Volker at Reading BID and I want to say ‘thank you’ to her and Nigel Horton-Baker at REDA for helping us make the event so good.”
Photo caption (l-r): Vincent Valere, Reading BID manager Alexa Volker and Alan Bunce.
