Are you in search of fun activities to celebrate Bastille Day? Then you should head to Smith Street, a main street, which stretches through Boerum Hill to Carroll Gardens. This area of Brooklyn is filled with French restaurants, cafes, and an annual Bastille Day block party and petanque tournament. The neighborhoods surrounding Smith Street are a haven for French expats and the local public school even has a dual language French program.


From parties to pastries, embrace French culture on this atmospheric Brooklyn street.

Here are some fun ways to celebrate the holiday on and around Smith Street:

Start your Bastille Day celebration on July 12^th, while enjoying an afternoon playing petanque at the Bastille Day Block Party on Smith Street. The festive block party attracts quite a crowd. Onlookers watch as folks participate in the petanque tournament. With local french restaurants providing food, the area is the spot to celebrate the holiday. The beloved Smith Street French restaurant Bar Tabac will participate in the 14th Annual Bastille Petanque Event from 12pm-6pm and will also have live music in the evening.

Further down Smith Street is the French café, Provence en Boite, enjoy French pastries and other treats at this neighborhood favorite. The café is also hosting a Bastille Day pentanque tournament on July 12th.  

If you want to go out for a French meal on Bastille Day, make reservations for a dinner at French Louie on Atlantic Avenue, located right near Smith Street.

This eclectic French restaurant is named after a French Canadian mule driver, lumberjack, hermit. It's run by the folks from Buttermilk Channel.  The menu is filled with French classics like Steak Tartare and tasty appetizers including smoked sardines and Jardiniere Pickles.

For those in search of a more casual experience, spend the afternoon sipping coffee and devouring a croissant at Bien Cut on Smith Street. The French Café has one of the best almond croissants and a menu of pastries, quiches and flavorful desserts. 

If you’re on the hunt for some macaroons this Bastille Day, you must trek to Dumbo. It’s a quick trip on the F train located on Smith Street. Just hop on the train to the Jay Street stop, which leaves you a couple of blocks from Almondie Bakery. This bakery is home to some of the tastiest macaroons in Brooklyn. Share your goodies with your friends and have your own Bastille Day Celebration.