Third Thursday: French Cultural Festival
Programs
March 21, 2024 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Enjoy after-hours exhibition access and celebrate French culture in Texas.
Event Details
Join us after work every Third Thursday for special extended Museum hours from 5 to 7 p.m.! Explore the exhibitions, enjoy food and drinks in The Star Cafe, and connect to the story of Texas. Different activities are offered each month. Museum garage parking is free after 5 p.m.
This month, experience the rich tapestry of French culture at our French Cultural Festival. Learn about the grape varieties typically grown in the Rhône Valley with a wine tasting from French Connection Wines, embark on fun-filled games to learn more about the history and culture of France with Austin Accueil, and create a wine charm to take home.
All activities are included in the price of exhibition admission. Onsite exhibition admission ticket sales end at 6:50 p.m.
This event is part of the French Cultures Festival coordinated by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the Consulate of France in Houston.
Featured Activities:
- Explore the Becoming Texas exhibition to learn about the 17th Century French explorer La Salle, discover how the sinking of his ship changed the course of history, and see how technological innovations led to the excavation and conservation of this 300-year-old ship.
- Participate in a game on French culture and history with Austin Accueil.
- Enjoy a wine tasting with French Connection Wines.
- Design your own wine glass charm in our Third Thursday Craft Corner with the Bullock Museum staff.
Spoken by 300 million people on the five continents and by 2.1 million people in the United States, French language is the second most widely learned language in the world. Since 1970, French language has been celebrated on March 20, which marks the birth of the Intergovernmental Organization of French-speaking nations.
Each year in March, the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in Houston coordinates the French Cultures Festival (FCF) in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. A celebration of the diversity of "Francophonie," it brings together people who speak French and feel connected to France and the Francophone community.
The French Cultures Festival strives to create awareness of the diversity of French language and cultures and to stimulate exchanges with the public.
The FCF gathers many institutional partners from museums, universities, schools, diplomatic representations, and many other organizations. Every year, over 40 cultural and educational events are showcased during the Festival in the three states covered by the Cultural Service.
French Connection Wines opened its doors in September 2019 on a vineyard in Hye, Texas. French Connection Wines sources their fruit from the Texas High Plains AVA, as well as higher elevation sites in the mountains of West Texas. These locations provide warm sunny days with cooler nights. Their wines are made from grape varieties typically grown in the Rhône Valley, which can be successfully grown in Texas. Grape varieties include Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Counoise, Cinsault, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul Blanc, and others.
Austin Accueil is a non-profit association managed by enthusiastic volunteers whose mission is to welcome and support new arrivals and offer a structure open to the entire French-speaking community of Austin and its surroundings to meet, create social connections, exchange as well as have fun, and play sports. Austin Accueil offers many activities and events to French people living in Austin and its surrounding areas.
Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, live performances, and experiential activities visitors are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.
