Volunteers with Sault Ste. The Marie Francophone Center organized a variety of activities, games and entertainment for families at Bellevue Park on Saturday in honor of St. Jean-Baptiste’s Day.
Dozens of local families are spending a hot, misty afternoon in Bellevue Park today for this year’s Festival de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Hosted by Sault Ste. Center Marie Francophone (CFSSM), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Festival is a French-Canadian holiday celebrated across North America to commemorate the patron saint of francophones, Jean-Baptiste.
The fun event features a variety of games and activities, including an obstacle course, dunk dunk, and face painting. Vendors from the Algoma Makers Market are also on site.
The Francophone Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Sault this year, said Jessica Damour-Torrance, CFSSM President, and she is very excited to welcome the community back to their annual celebration in Bellevue for the first time since the pandemic.
“It feels good to be back,” she said. “It’s good to see everyone here and work together, it’s really important. We’re not a big French community – but we are here. It’s an opportunity to share this with everyone, to have fun together and to have the chance to speak French together.”
The event also featured entertainment from local artists throughout the day, including live performances by Burton Clan, François Lemieux, Marco Roy, and students from Notre Dame du Saul.
The Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste takes place on Saturdays in Bellevue Park until 6 p.m.
