The French Get Their Party On in Brooklyn for Bastille Day 2013

Petengue on Smith Street. Photos: MK Metz

Smith Street was transformed into Little France on Sunday, July 14 as Brooklyn once again celebrated Bastille Day with the famous Petengue Tournament, glasses of Lillet, music and French food.

The street was covered with sand for the tournament and spectators enjoyed little glasses of Lillet, music and French food. The sun hats given out by sponsors came in handy in the heat, which was pretty dramatic.

Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens are said to have the highest concentration of French folks in the city. The area includes many French businesses, shops and cafes, and French language immersion programs at schools.

In petanque, competitors throw metal balls (boules), trying to get close to a little ball called a "pig" (cochonnet). This year there were more than 80 teams.

In spite of the heat, patrons danced like crazy as the band played outside Bar Tabac.

Brooklyn's Bastille Day event was founded 11 years ago by Bette Stoltz along with restaurants Bar Tabac and Robin des Bois (now shuttered), and is sponsored by French apéritif company Ricard.

July 14 marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789.

Past stories on this topic:
- Good Times at Brooklyn's Bastille Day 2012
- 2012 Bastille Day Coming Up
- Bastille Day 2011
- 2011 Bastille Day Coming Up
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day, 2010
- Brooklyn's 2010 Bastille Day Celebration Looking Big 
- Brooklyn Bastille Day 2009 -- Great Day, Big Crowds
- Bastille Day 2009 in Brooklyn  
- Bastille Day in Brooklyn: The French Conquer Smith Street
- Brooklyn's Bastille Day: Smith Street, Sunday 
- Bastille Day in Brooklyn -- La Rue de Smith Sautait!

Photos by MK Metz

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