(Credit: Shanelle Guillemette, Franco-Fun Festival marketing coordinator)
The Francophone Festival is an annual celebration during the summer season in London, Ont. It is a commemoration honoring St. Jean Baptiste.
For the 2024 edition, this event introduces a new addition: The Francophone Market. The Carrefour Communautaire Francophone de London (CCFL) has decided to bring it to support vendors and small businesses because they hosted it first ever to celebrate Francophone Month in Mach which was a big hit.
(Credit: Shanelle Guillemette)
“We have lots of local entrepreneurs signing up for free to showcase their goods and services. It is a great way to let them shine in front of hundreds of people who’ll be there to celebrate with us,” says Shanelle Guillemette, Franco-Fun Festival marketing coordinator.
The attendees will get a free barbecue and a variety of performances including the circus group, magical tricks for kids, an ethnocultural dance show, inflatable games, face painting, and a community mural.
According to Guillemette, this event means a lot for the city because it’s a time for everyone to attend, come together, and celebrate. Also, the CCFL has built a community, which includes new immigrants, seniors, and kids who might feel isolated and it is a great opportunity to combat that feeling of isolation. It offers a safe space for families to enjoy fun activities and make memories that will hopefully last.
(Credit: Shanelle Guillemette)
“We’re also hoping it’ll bring people from nearby cities to London, hopefully boosting tourism here too,” she adds.
This year, the Franco-Fun Festival will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 22nd at Ed Blake Park. If people want to bring their refillable water bottles, there’ll be thirst stations where they can refill their water since it’s going to be very hot that day.
