The free Celebrate Bastille Day SF Festival lands July 18 at Embarcadero Plaza — not July 14. Here's what's confirmed, plus the Bush Street options for the actual holiday.

The calendar answer first: SF's big public Bastille Day celebration doesn't land on July 14. The 7th annual Celebrate Bastille Day SF Festival is Saturday, July 18, at Embarcadero Plaza (foot of Steuart Street), 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., free. Organized by the Comité Officiel under the patronage of the Consulate General of France, it's the largest French National Day celebration in the Bay Area — this year marking 250 years of French-American friendship.

Programming includes French food vendors (La Boulangerie de San Francisco, La Crêpe à moi, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Fabrique Délices), a wine and beer bar, live music, pétanque demos and free lessons at the Bocce Ball courts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a Citroën vintage car exhibition, and a Waiters Race starting at 3:15 p.m. (online registration required for the race). SF City Guides leads free walking tours of "1850s San Francisco: Paris of the Pacific" at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. — register at sfcityguides.org.

For July 14 itself (a Tuesday): confirmed public programming is limited. Notre Dame des Victoires — SF's French Marist parish at 566 Bush Street — traditionally hosts a French-language Mass and post-Mass reception in Marist Hall on Bastille Day; call (415) 397-0113 to confirm 2026 plans. Alliance Française de San Francisco is one block up at 1345 Bush Street and has historically held a July 14 evening event; verify at (415) 775-7755.

Getting there July 18: Embarcadero BART is a two-minute walk. Paid parking in Embarcadero Center garages. The pétanque courts draw a crowd by early afternoon — arrive before noon if you want a game.