Sudburians will take an entire week to join other French-Canadians throughout the country in celebrating St. Jean Baptiste Day.
The holiday takes place on June 24, but francophone arts and culture will be showcased in Greater Sudbury from June 17 to 24.
Musical and dramatic performances are scheduled around a traditional pancake breakfast, a festival lunch and the fourth annual Contact interculturel francophone de Sudbury soccer tournament.
“There’s stuff going on all week,” Christian Pelletier, communications and promotions officer at Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, festival organizer, said. “We’ve concentrated our efforts on the concerts we’re throwing.”
Quebec rocker Robert Charlebois will headline the festival when he performs at the Grand Night Club on June 18, at 8 p.m. “He’s like a living legend,” Pelletier said.
Charlebois was a popular performer from the 60s and 70s. “He really transformed the music scene in Quebec in those days,” Pelletier said.
He added tickets for the show are selling quickly.
Alcaz’, a duo from Marseille, France, will play the following evening at Little Montreal. The pair will take the stage at 8 p.m. “They’re a couple, so they have a lot of fun teasing each other on stage,” Pelletier said.
On Sunday, Canada’s only French ventriloquist, Lise Maurais, will perform with her puppets Lili and Virus. The free show is designed to appeal to both the young and old. It takes place at the St-Jean-de-Brébeuf parish hall at 12:30 p.m.
For the first time, Ontario Pop will also be held in Sudbury. The talent contest will feature a performance by Konflit Dramatik’s vocalist Chris Berthiaume. Up-and-coming performers will hit the stage at Thorneloe University on Sunday.
Pelletier described St. Jean Baptiste Day as “French-Canada’s national holiday.”
Nearly 5,000 francophones have gathered for it annually since Sudburians began to celebrate the holiday in 1998.
Other francophone communities in Canada also celebrate the day. Pelletier said Kapuskasing holds an elaborate celebration the week after Sudbury.
For more information about St. Jean festivities in Sudbury, visit www.stjeansudbury.ca
