Festival De Joie
The Festival de Joie [Festival of Joy] is a Franco-American celebration. The festival starts with the prelude on July 31st. There's a special concert at the Franco-American Center at St. Mary's Church on Cedar St. Wednesday and Thursday, August 1st & 2nd, 2001. Lisbon St. closes to vehicle traffic. The community celebrates its heritage with a parade, mini-concerts, and dance performances. All the things in the festival like the entertainment, the crafts, and cultural displays along with the dancing, live entertainment, concerts, and the historical displays are a way of remembering their heritage
Franco-Americans came to America from Quèbec, Canada flooding to Lewiston (known then as Lewiston Falls) to work in the new mills and factories. Most were poor farmers that worked in mills and shoe shops. They brought their faith and culture. The Festival De Joie celebrates their history. It shows the community's heritage with French music, French language, French food, or in other words French culture!
The Festival De Joie starts on Friday and continues into Saturday and Sunday. The events take place at the Central Maine Civic Center, at Druin Field in Lewiston, other events are located at the Railroad Park on the river front on Oxford St., Lewiston, Maine. The cost is $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door on Saturday, and Sunday. Children under 12 are free. It ends on Sunday.
(Brochure created by Matt and Drew)
At the festival they have craft areas, horse drawn wagon rides, boat rides on the Androscoggin River, planned walking tour to "Little Canada", eating contests and many other things.
Mr. Lionel Guay is the coordinator of the Festival de Joie. He lives in Lewiston. When interviewed, Lionel Guay said, "The festival includes other types of people like Greek, Irish, Scottish, German, and Native American. All the people that come from different countries are sad. They miss their home. The festival makes them think of their home. They remember their home and the kinds of music from that country."
He is Franco-American. This is his favorite festival.If you have any questions you can call him at 207-782-6231.
This page created by Matthew, Drew, Asia, Teresa, Joe, & Cody (2001)
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