Eiffel Tower returns to Cathedral Square for 40th Bastille Days Festival

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Gates for the 40th annual Bastille Days Festival opened at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 13. 

People immediately started to make their way to Cathedral Square to indulge in all things French from berets to crepes and beignets. 

"This is a fantastic festival, it's the biggest in North America. It attracts 250,000 people in its four days," said Anne LePlae with AllianceFrancaise. "We end up usually making 6,0000 beignets." 

AllianceFrancaise is located right in front of St. John's Cathedral, and all of the proceeds support French Language and Culture in Southeast Wisconsin. 

"It's our biggest fundraiser and the one where we reach out and touch the most people. So, it's a big friend-raiser as well," said LePlae. 

You'll see French flags all over the park, and make sure to stop and enjoy the can-can dancers too. 

This year, a few things are returning for the first time since 2019. The three gates where you can symbolize your love with a padlock, similar to the love lock bridge in Paris, are back. 

Plus, the beloved Eiffel Tower is once again front and center. 

"We did some renovations this year to get it back," said Todd Radmanovic an event producer with All Access Productions. "The lower sections were repaired and painted just to get it out here so we can get it in front of everyone, so they can see it, and we can start some fundraising."

Last year, many people were wondering where the tower was. It was out of commission due to structural issues. It is safe now, by there are some further restorations on the top that they want to do. They've generated a QR code it will be underneath the tower for those who want to donate to the restorations.