Francophone, Francophile, French-Canadian ancestry…or know someone who is, or is interested? Consider passing this post along, about a very special event in Minneapolis September 28-29, 2012. Here is the final, detailed program: 2012 Franco-Fete Final Program.pdf
Franco-Fête will include all the elements of a fine program: family, food, fun…along with academics, history, music…
This will be the first such Fete in Minneapolis-St. Paul, but is not a first ever venture.
Leader Dr. Virgil Benoit, French-Canadian (Franco-American), professor of French at the University of North Dakota and a lifelong part of the Red Lake Falls MN community, has been putting together similar festivals for over 35 years in various places in Minnesota and North Dakota. Dr. Benoit is a professor of diverse talents and great skill, as well as having great passion for the culture and language of his birth.
This years conference will be the largest and most ambitious thus far.
Presenters & Speakers from the U of M - Twin Cities:
April A. Knutson, Lecturer in French, University of Minnesota (retired)
Lydia Belateche, Senior Lecturer of French, University of Minnesota
Patricia Mougel, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer Dept of French & Italian - University of Minnesota
Friday, September 28th: Prelude Evening Events
One Lourdes Place
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414
Saturday, September 29th: Main Events
DeLaSalle High School
One DeLaSalle Drive, Nicollet Island
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401
"Le Vent du Nord", a Québécois progressive folk band will be
holding a concert in Minneapolis (at De La Salle High School, just a
few blocks from campus) on Saturday evening, September 29th, 7:30 p.m., as the culminating event of the Franco-Fête festival celebrating French in Minnesota taking place that day.
You can get a reduced concert admission in one of three ways:
- If you are age 18 or below, you can pay only $5 by completing the appropriate part of the attached registration form
and sending it to the indicated address with your payment. (You may
also register for the day events--presentations, dance demonstrations
etc. about French-speaking groups in Minnesota, past and present, for only $5.)
- Whatever your age, you may get a reduced rate of only $5 each for the concert and/or the day's events by volunteering to help out at the event for a couple of hours during the day. To volunteer, contact Dick Bernard.
Please see the event website for more details and registration.
