Brooklyn's Bastille Day: Smith Street, Sunday

(2009 Bastille Day information here.) Smith Street is where you want to be Sunday from noon - 8 p.m. for the biggest Bastille Day in the U.S. Again this year, the street will be covered in sand for the famous petanque tournament, played with tennis-ball-sized metal balls.

Bar Tabac is a major sponsor (along with Robin des Bois and Ricard). Last year, people were dancing in the street, and the Blue Orchard orchestra (right) made you feel like you were in Paris.

According to Bergen Carroll, this year music will be provided by Baby Blue Orchids, an American big band, and the Francois Wiss Ensemble, playing French gypsy music.

UPDATE: What a day! See how it all turned out here.

- Bastille Day in Brooklyn -- La Rue de Smith Sautait!

- Bastille Day Rendez-Vous 2008: Pétanque, Bal Musette And... The Solex: Pardon Me for Asking

- Smith Street Goes French Again Brooklyn Eagle

- Bastille Day Means Pentanque on Smith Street Bergen Carroll


Photos by MK Metz