Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Detroit, MI

Bonjour! Et Joyeuz Quatorze Juillet!

In other words, Happy Bastille Day! In this city with a French name, founded by French settlers, whose major streets include Gratiot and Dequindre and Livernois (and one of whose best-known products is Chevrolet), we don't actually do much to celebrate the French culture. We boast a few French restaurants, almost all of which are far, far too high end to visit with a child, but aside from visiting the Grosse Pointes or Grosse Ile or singing a few rounds of Frere Jacques, there's not a lot preschool friendly to do today.

Except for one thing petanque!

Petanque is a game similar to bocce or curling, in which players attempt to toss their boules (small metal balls) closest to the cochon (which means pig in French) while standing within a circle. Players can either attempt to get their boule closest to the cochon or attempt to knock the other teams' boules further away.

There are not one but two petanque clubs in Detroit, both of which play downtown.  One plays from noon to 1 pm Monday through Friday at Cadillac Square Park (which runs at right angles to the east end of Campus Martius), and the other plays noon to 5 pm Saturdays at Campus Martius Park. The weekday games are for members, but you could certainly watch and learn, and probably pick up a game or two on Saturdays.

There are also petanque sets for backyard play.

Amusez-vous!