Frenchtown Comes Alive with History, Music and Memories on Bastille Day

Bastille Day celebrations took place Monday in the heart of Frenchtown, closing out a weeklong tribute to French heritage on St. Thomas.

Community members gathered for an open house at the French Heritage Museum, where they toured exhibits highlighting the rich seafaring and cultural legacy of the French Caribbean community. A brief program and live entertainment brought neighbors and visitors together in a vibrant display of pride and tradition, honoring a local history of Bastille Day celebrations that dates back nearly 90 years.

French Heritage Week has evolved from a single-day event into a full week of activities, officially recognized each year by gubernatorial proclamation. The tradition dates as far back as 1935, when newspaper accounts described residents of Carenage, now known as Frenchtown, decorating their homes with French flags and gathering for informal receptions. Over the decades, celebrations expanded to include boat races, softball games, concerts, dances and, more recently, fishing tournaments and cultural presentations.

During the evening program, Gabrielle Querrard delivered a powerful address that underscored the deeper meaning behind the museum and the festivities.