Sugary sweet festival honours French culture

By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – A festival that highlights the rich French culture in Cornwall is back – and sweeter than ever.

The sixth annual Cabane à Sucre is jam-packed this year with live entertainment, French stand-up comics, clowns, children’s shows, and a lot of maple syrup.

Centre culturel de Cornwall is hosting the two-day festival in partnership with Partir d’un bon pas.

It’s all happening from 11 am to 11 pm this Friday and Saturday at Nativity Hall (301 McConnell Avenue).

“All the nice French Canadian traditions are here,” said Lucie Hart, Centre culturel de Cornwall president. “People can expect tons of fun family activities and plenty of taffy, since the sap isn’t running anywhere else but here.”

The festival’s events are free until supper time and children under five years old eat at no cost. The full schedule is featured below.

Cabane à Sucre has changed its venue several times over the years. Unpredictable weather has forced it to switch from an outdoor setting to a mostly indoor event. The festival spent two years at the Port Theatre and the Army Navy Air Force Club.

“It’s very important to keep this tradition alive because we want to share our heritage with the whole community, that’s why it’s a bilingual event,” said Suzanne Villeneuve, Centre culturel de Cornwall coordinator.

Both festival co-organizers expect hundreds to attend.

Hart said although spring is taking its sweet time to blossom, putting maple syrup harvest on hold, the sugary sweet treat will be flowing in Cornwall.

Cabane à Sucre: Friday, March 14

Ouverture de la Cabane à sucre / Opening of the Cabane à sucre – 11 am

Frizotine la coquine – Spectacle pour enfants/Clown – Children’s show – 11 am Maquillage de visage/Face painting – 12:30 pm

Bricot/ Arts and Crafts Michel Sonnel – 1:30 pm

Musique pour enfants/Children’s music- 2:30 pm

Film pour enfants/Children’s movie – 3:00 pm

Musique/music – 4 pm

Souper/Supper Cabane à sucre ($8) – 5 pm to 7 pm

Musique/Music Roxanne Delage, Marc Carrière, and Rod Robillard/Road House dancers – 5 pm to 7 pm

Top Secret (comédie et chansons) spectacle (15,00$)/French Stand-up Comics – starts at 7:30 pm

Cabane à Sucre: Saturday, March 15

Déjeuner/Breakfast Cabane à sucre ($5) – 10 am to noon

Jeu en famille/Family game : Une minute à gagner/One minute to win – starts at noon

Estelle Farfadelle – Spectacle pour enfants/Children’s show – 1 pm

Swinging Bees – 2 pm

Bricot/Arts and Crafts- 3 pm

Film pour enfants/Children’s movie – 4 pm

Souper/Supper/Cabane à sucre ($8)- 5 pm to 7 pm

Musique/Music Chuck Leclerc et amis, Chuck Leclerc and friends – 5 pm to 7 pm

Les bons vivants (musique traditionnelle/traditional music) ($10) – starts at 7:30 pm

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