This April 27th through 29th, you won’t have to fly to Paris to experience a taste of France. Washington, DC is known to create unbeatable experiences out of thin air and a few thinly paved streets, and this year’s 15th Annual Georgetown French Market, presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, isn’t about to become the first market to disappoint. In preparation, residents and visitors to Washington, DC alike can immerse themselves in the culturally rich history of French influence in DC.
The most well known French influencer in Washington is Pierre Charles L’Enfant (of L’Enfant Metro Station), who after coming to France and fighting in the American Revolutionary War, became a city planner under George Washington and as the author of the L’Enfant Plan, is responsible for much of Washington’s neatly designed public squares, parks, and wide avenues that shaped our nation’s capital into one of the most well laid-out towns in our country. The second notable French influence was made on DC via John Carroll, founder of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. As Jesuits found refuge from Protestant England in neighboring France, John Carroll joined and taught the Jesuit order in France until 1762; Carroll’s French connection proved long lasting as he returned stateside; today, students at Georgetown can spend seven weeks studying like Carroll in Saint-Omer on the John Carroll Summer Internship Program.
You too can embrace Washington, DC’s French influence by attending DC’s 15th Annual Georgetown French Market. Beginning at 10AM and running until 5PM on Friday and Saturday, and running from 12PM to 5PM on Sunday, this open air market will transform the Book Hill neighborhood between O ST NW and Reservoir Rd NW on Wisconsin Ave NW and a sliver of P ST NW between Wisconsin Ave NW and 33rd St NW. With more than 35 local shops participating, this festival will give you a genuine taste of France, in Washington, DC. The Georgetown French Market will also feature the sights and sounds of France with live music stages on Saturday and Sunday featuring gypsy jazz, French jazz, and French swing artists. On Saturday, April 28th, Rachel Sparrow & Didier Prossaird will take the stage from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Bitter Dose Combo will perform from 11 AM – 4 PM, Jeremy the Musicador from 1 PM – 2 PM, and the Swing Orphans from 2 PM – 4 PM. Sunday’s music experience will feature Laissez Foure from 12 PM – 3 PM.
Georgetown French Market will run rain or shine, so come out, and bring your four legged friends for a chance to win 100$! Reside in Washington, DC and interested in brushing up on your French? Take lessons at Alliance Française de Washington, DC. In Washington, DC for the weekend and need accommodations? Our Washington DC Hotel is your home away from home; book today.
