Download The 2011 French Festival Booklet

The 44th   Annual French Festival will be Saturday July 14th to Sunday, July 15th , 2012

The festivities will begin Saturday, July 14th with the following schedule: 

MR. GEORGE ELMER MASTER OF CEREMONIES

7:00am to 11:00am PANCAKE BREAKFAST at St. John’s Church, S. Markte St.

8:00am FRENCH PASTRY & FRENCH BREAD on sale

9:00am ALL CRAFTS & EXHIBITORS open for the day

10:30am to 2:00pm & 3:30pm to 6:00pm CHILDREN'S PROGRAM featuring the  Catskill Puppets

11:00am OFFICIAL OPENING, Reviewing Stand, Broadway
Welcome by Mayor and Town Supervisor
Crowning of French Festival Queen
Presentation of Queens Court
Proclamation by French Festival Queen
LA NOUVELLE FRANCE-FRENCH MUSIC AND DRESS

2:00pm PARADE-Napoleon will lead the parade; includes Floats, Bands and Other Attractions. Over 50 units

4:00pm Awards at Reviewing Stand-trophies to winning bands and floats by the French Festival Queen

4:15pm to 6:30pm Band Performances-front of the reviewing stand
The following bands have attended in the past:
Sea Cadets
Syracuse Fire – Police Band
Antwerp Drum & Bugle Corp (Original Yanks)
Spirit of 69 Drum & Bugle Corp
Highland Mist Pipe Band
The Island Band
Sons of Scotland Pipes & Drums

5:00 pm FESTIVAL MASS at St. Vincent of Paul Church (Spoken in French)

9:30 pm FIREWORKS on the Breakwall on the waterfront

Sunday, July 15th with the following happenings:

9:00am to 3:00pm ARTS & CRAFT SHOW & SALE

11:00 am Alumni Soccer game to benefit the Scholarship fund at Cape Vincent Elementary. 

1:00 pm North Country All American Classics antique car parade.


The following bands will be performing at the reviewing stand and the parade:

The Sons of Scotland Pipes and Drums--This band is a group of people dedicated to playing and preserving Highland Bagpipe Music. Think of the skirl of the pipes and the wearing of tartans and you think of Scotland. The Sons of Scotland Pipes and Drums, wear the Campbell of Argyle Tartan, signifying a connection to one of the most powerful clans in all of the mystic land of Scotland. The first band was formed in 1896. The band will be participating in the Piper and Pipe Band Society of Ontario competition circuit in 1998. The Sons of Scotland Pipes and Drums performs thirty to thirty five events annually. They perform at numerous types of events. They can provide a Full Band or a Solo Piper for any of these events. They are committed to preserving the Scots traditional music.

Spirit of 69 Marching Band--Based in Arnprior, Ontario, this is the Spirit of 69 second annual appearance in the French Festival Parade. The band is unique in that its members range in age from preteen to over 65. Averaging over 20 performances annually since its formation in 1990, the band has won many parade awards and is a crowd favorite everywhere it plays. Valley residents will recall having seen the bands bright red and white colors at Canada Day celebrations and at numerous festivals throughout Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec and Northern New York State. Using drum corps style instruments, the band strives for quality sound and showmanship in public. Whether participating in a big city parade, moving down a village street, or playing a mini concert to street-side audiences, the bands repertoire is varied and extremely crowd pleasing.

For more information on the Festival call the Chamber of Commerce office at 315-654-2481. CRAFTERS & EXHIBITORS call Gail Vogt  at 315-654-4266 for an application or download an application here.

For an application to participate in the parade contact Dave Parker at dappydoo62@tds.net .