Lets celebrate la Francophonie together!
– the 9th & 10th of March 2024 –
The festival is back in 2024 for its 14th edition! This spring, come and celebrate the French-speaking world with us, discover Francophone music, taste maple taffy on snow, mini-tourtières and much more!
Saturday March 9th
Join us outside the Club Bon Accueil center for an afternoon full of family activities! In the evening, come and celebrate in the banquet hall with French-speaking folk music from around the world.
1:00 p.m. | Opening of the festival grounds: free entry for all
1:15 p.m. | Opening ceremony: with Pascale Gibeau, Vice-President of CBA, and sheep’s wool song, by the children from Garderie Côte du Soleil with Marie-Soleil Beaudoin and Séraphine Ntambwe
1:30 p.m. | Music under the roof: Ben Bouchard
2:00 p.m. | Francophone storytime for children in the forest with Sonia Zagwyn from the Powell River Public Library
2:30 p.m. | Music under the roof: Ben Bouchard
3:00 p.m. | Workshop – Playing with the rhythms of French Canada
Join Gary Cohen and Amber Woods of world folk music duo Kouskous in a fun and interactive rhythm workshop. Explore different ways of expressing French-Canadian rhythm and how the rhythm fits into easy-to-follow folk songs from French-speaking Canada. If you know how to clap your hands, this workshop is for you.
4:00 p.m. | Music under the roof: Beach Crashers
5:00 p.m. | Closure of the outdoor festival grounds
Break
6:15 p.m. | Doors open for the banquet hall
free admission for members and children 12 and under, $10.00 for non-members – tickets at the door only, limited spaces
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |You are invited to join world folk music duo Kouskous for a magical and mysterious musical tour of folk songs from the French-speaking world. Opening act with Ben Bouchard from 6:30-7:00 pm.
With appetizers by Off the Vine Catering: mini tourtières, croque monsieur, hummus, bruschetta and sweets, as well as a cash bar.
Beach Crashers
The Beach Crashers drift along the Sunshine Coast under the better known pseudonym – Beach Crashers. Their fragmented personalities are surely the consequence of a somewhat crazy bilingual life. Francophones and Francophiles make up the band who will play more pop than pop for you, hoping that you won’t take them too seriously. Secure your surfboards with straps because the Beach Breakers are going to show up with their loud energy!
Throughout the afternoon:
– Activities passport for children: treasure hunt, zip line, sculpted balloons with Jean-Marc Ouellet, craft table with seniors, Orca Bus and more!
– Just Frys Food Truck: enjoy good poutine!
– Club Bon Accueil Canteen with drinks and pastries for sale
– Fire with marshmellows
Kouskous
Global folk music duo Kouskous has an extensive repertoire including songs from the French-speaking world. Kouskous features Mediterranean-inspired vocal inflections and spicy, exotic rhythmic guitar stylings from the Middle East.
Gary Cohen conducts Kouskous, (guitar and vocals), and conducts percussion while Amber Woods assists percussion on a variety of instruments and occasionally sings. Gary is a musician who draws inspiration from Greek, North American and French folk traditions.
Benoit Bouchard
guitarist, singer, and composer
World, Roots, Rhythm/Blues, Traditional.
Guitar, Piano, Percussion
Ben was born in 1963 in Rock-Island Quebec. He is bilingual and learned to play guitar at the age of 13. For 47 years now, he has loved harmonies and loves playing to celebrate and inspire love.
Ben was influenced by the music of Harmonium, Paul Piché, Jim Corcoran, Peter Gabriel, and Sting. He believes that music is a truly special language. He loves the opportunity to move people with music. It’s an emotional language that can inspire change.
Ben is once again taking time out of his life to play, compose and produce music. He composes and performs in French and English. He can’t wait to play at the Festival Francophone on March 9, 2024!
Sunday March 10th
THE SUGAR SHACK BRUNCH!
A traditional brunch will be served by Laughing Oyster, consisting of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, hashbrowns, fruit salad, pea soup and unlimited maple syrup!
Maple taffy on snow will also be prepared with organic maple syrup from Québec (Cosman & Webb) by Yvon Sévigny and Dany Doiron, and violin will be played throughout by Russell Storry and company!
10:00am to 12:00pm | Sugar Shack Brunch
11:00am to 12:30pm | Maple taffy on snow
12:00pm | Festival ends
This festival is funded by Canadian Heritage!
Presale of tickets for the
sugar shack brunch
Tickets for the brunch will be sold online. Limited spaces available
$20.00 | adult
$14.00 | children 12 and under
free | children 4 and under
Russell Storry & friends!
You will tap your toes and sway in your chair while enjoying your sugar shack brunch with fiddler Russell Storry and friends playing French Canadian style fiddle tunes!