Festival du Bois returns to Mackin Park from March 24 to 26

Tickets now on sale for fun-filled event that celebrates French Canada

SPONSORED POST BY Festival du bois

Les Grands Hurleurs.

Festival du Bois is back for its 34th year with a brilliant roster of music artists and performers slated to grace the stages of the big heated tents at Mackin Park in Maillardville, Coquitlam, from March 24 to 26.

Rooted in the French-Canadian community and heritage of the Maillardville area, Festival du Bois is the largest and most popular celebration of francophone music and culture in B.C. The festival will present some of the finest Québécois, francophone, and roots music artists throughout the weekend.

On-site in Mackin Park and in the nearby Mackin House Museum, audiences of all ages are welcome to explore exhibits, participatory activities, shopping, workshops, and food truck fare, including traditional French Canadian cuisine like tourtière, maple taffy on snow, poutine, and more.

This year, the festival is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Société francophone de Maillardville, the festival’s presenting organization.

The event will open with a contra dance—a folk-style group dance that has become a tradition for the festival—in the park’s Grand Chapiteau (Big Tent). Visitors are invited to dance along to the music of Vancouver’s premiere contradance group, The Sybaritic String Band, with caller Sherry Nevins.

Throughout the weekend, the festival will present outstanding music artists from B.C., Manitoba, Quebec, and Washington State. Featured performances include Les Grands Hurleurs, an award-winning folk band that plays traditional Québécois music bursting with new ideas; sensational Senegalese soul-rocker Élage Diouf, whose music that blends folk, pop, world, blues, and asiko has won him Juno and Félix awards; and father-son duo La Famille Léger, playing the French Canadian music of back porches and kitchen parties that has been handed down through generations.

Élage Diouf. Photo by Vitor Munhoz

Several other performers will be featured at the festival as well, including Québécious power trio, Genticorum, Jocelyn Baribeau, Podorythmie, Forró do Cana, and Les Échos du Pacifique. There will also be a children’s tent on-site featuring a variety of kid-friendly shows, and an exciting area called the Métis Village Experience presented in partnership with the North Fraser Métis Association that will showcase musicians, jiggers, storytellers, craftspeople, and artisans sharing their rich culture and traditions.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now at Festival du Bois. Discounted tickets are available for families, seniors, and students, and entry is free for children under 5.

Post sponsored by Festival du Bois.

Forró do Cana.