[Photo courtesy of Petanque America]

Bastille Day is approaching on Smith Street, a week from today, in fact. Here’s an email we got from the people at Bar Tabac:

Bar Tabac (128 Smith Street, Brooklyn 718-923-0918) and Ricard celebrate Bastille Day on Sunday July 13 with the annual street festival and Petanque tournament. This very successful event, now in its seventh year, closes down Smith Street every year, as the street is covered in sand for the Petanque courts. The event is organized by Bar Tabac, Robin des Bois and the local Community Board. 80 teams participate in what has become the largest Petangue tournament in the U.S. Players from around the world, including France, Italy, Thailand, Australia, the U.S. and Canada, as well as Brooklyn locals, will fight it out for the prize of top team.

The event takes place on Sunday July 13, 2008 from Noon-8PM on Smith Street between Bergen and Pacific.