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LEWISTON — The Fête Nationale and the Feast Day of St. Jean the Baptist will be celebrated Friday, June 23, at the Gendron Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., in association with the Québec Delegation to Boston, the Franco-American Collection at USM/LAC, the Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society, Place St-Louis in Auburn and Museum L/A.
“We will once again showcase the past and future contributions of Franco-American and other Francophone cultures in our community,” said Mitch Thomas, executive director at the Gendron Franco Center. “We are so fortunate to have Québec native and master accordionist Normand Gagnon as our featured entertainer.”
Gagnon, who will be joined by a group of musicians, was born in Québec and moved to Maine in 1971 at the age of 30.
The event will begin with a social hour and cash bar in the center’s Heritage Hall at 10:30 a.m. A Fête Nationale luncheon will be served, followed by a celebration in the magnificent performance hall. This will include live traditional entertainment and special tribute selections by Nel Meservier.
Special guests include Marie-Claude Francoeur, head of the Québec delegation to Boston, and Rita S. Dubé, the Franco Center’s founding executive director. A special dedication honoring Dubé will take place during the celebration.
The traditional feast day menu includes soup bouillon, salade de printemps, meat tourtiere, and cake des fêtes. Churches from across the Twin Cities will ring their own bells at noon to celebrate the feast day. A 12:30 p.m. program will include the musicians, speakers, the Franco-American Veterans Color Guard, and songs led by Les Troubadours. A special surprise tribute and a traditional fireworks display will conclude the program.
Reserved meal tickets are $12. To purchase tickets, visit the box office at 46 Cedar St.; go on-line at francocenter.org, or call 207-783-1585. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m.
The Gendron Franco Center is handicapped accessible and located at Cedar and Oxford streets in the “Little Canada” section of Lewiston, just across the Lown Peace Bridge coming from New Auburn.
