After a one-year hiatus, the Chautauqua and French-Canadian/Metis Festival returns to Old Crossing and Treaty Park near Huot. Festivities begin Friday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck picnic followed by a bonfire, singing by Don Schmitz, and storytelling.
The Chautauqua and French-Canadian/Metis Festival will celebrate history, culture, and camaraderie at Old Crossing and Treaty Park. The Park is on County Road 11, seven miles northeast of Gentilly or nine miles southwest of Red Lake Falls.
Poitin, a band from the Fargo/Moorhead area, will entertain with a blend of Irish, Celtic, French-Canadian, and Metis music. Poitin (pronounced pah-CHEEN) will perform on August 28 and 29 at 1:00 p.m.
Storyteller and author Jan Smith of Clitherall will be on stage at 2:00 p.m. on both days. Her topics will be “Midwifery and Early Medical Techniques.” Saturday will close out with Mass at 5:00 p.m.
On Sunday, at 12:30 p.m. AFRAN President Virgil Benoit will give a welcome. Throughout the weekend, artists and artisans will demonstrate woodworking, carving, and broom making. There will also be children’s activities. Food, including French Festival specialties such a Tourtiere (meat pie) and bread made in the earth oven, will be available. Silent auctions will be held Saturday and Sunday.
The festival wraps up at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to all events in the park. The annual event is sponsored by AFRAN (Association of the French of the North). Visit https://www.frenchcanadianafran.org/home.html. For more information on the Chautauqua and Festival, contact Virgil Benoit at 218-253-2270 or Jerry Amiot at 218-289-8889.
