Sunday is final day for 2012 Bastille Days

MILWAUKEE -- Bastille Days, Milwaukee's popular French festival, kicked off Thursday, July 12th in Cathedral Square, and this year, the festival is taking on a Mardi-Gras theme.

The festival runs from Thursday through Sunday (July 15th).

The free, four-day bash attracts over 250,000 visitors annually who enjoy live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming busker entertainment and a signature 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica offering hourly light shows.

The event is known for the impromptu street performers, roaming minstrels, a variety of interactive and musical entertainment. 

This year, the festival kicked off Thursday afternoon with a Jack-in-the-box themed cake.

The popular "Storm the Bastille" 5K run/two-mile walk was held Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. The run is in honor of the 18th century attack on the Bastille prison in Paris.

About 5,000 participants lined up for the run/walk that began on North Jefferson Street and led participants through downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward.

CLICK HERE for additional information on the Bastille Days festival.