Featuring a weekend of French-Canadian music, food and festivities in Coquitlam, Festival du Bois is Metro Vancouver’s premier Francophone festival.
The festival features French-Canadian, folk and world music concerts as well as family-friendly entertainment. There are workshops, French-Canadian foods and other fun activities too.
In 2024 the festivities happen on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of March 8th, 9th and 10th.
For tickets and the festival’s official website, visit festivaldubois.ca.
This article includes the following information about Festival du Bois:
What to Expect | Festival Video | When and Where | Admission | Activities | Contra Dance | Festival Schedule | Traditional Menu Items | Mackin House Museum | Other Information
Coquitlam’s Festival du Bois
Festival du Bois is British Columbia’s largest Francophone festival. It happens in Mackin Park, which is at 1046 Brunette Avenue in Coquitlam. The venue is a 24 km drive from downtown Vancouver.
To learn about the event, continue reading or visit the official festivaldubois.ca website.
What to Expect
At Festival du Bois you’ll find activities for children, French-Canadian foods for sale, market vendors, workshops, and a variety of great musical performances throughout the weekend.
Popular foods for sale typically include poutine, crepes and traditional snow-hardened maple syrup candy.
If you like French-Canadian folk music (which can be lots of fun and is the festival’s main draw), or want a chance to practice your French (but it’s not compulsory), then you won’t want to miss this event! The festival is a lot of fun and very interesting, especially if you’re from French-Canadian heritage (but terrific also for people from all backgrounds).
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
Festival du Bois Video
For an idea of what to expect at the festival, check out the following short video. It shows scenes of the festival from a few years ago. The band playing at the dance in the video is the Sybaritic String Band which plays at the Contra Night Dance each year. The musician performing at the end is Shauit.
As you’ll see from this clip, the festival is a lot of fun. There are food trucks, activities and entertainment spread out all around Mackin Park. There is so much to see and do!
When and Where
Festival du Bois debuted in 1989 and happens in late winter or early spring each year. It usually happens in March, but it has happened slightly earlier or later on occasion.
In 2024 the festivities take place on the weekend of March 8th to 10th.
The festival is held in Mackin Park, at 1046 Brunette Avenue, just a few blocks from the Coquitlam IKEA store. The park is a 10-minute walk from IKEA and five minutes from Canadian Tire. You are actually allowed to park at IKEA during the festival most years and then take a free shuttle to the venue.
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
Festival du Bois Admission
Below are the admission prices for 2024 if you pay online as of early February. Tickets at the gate usually cost more.
- Friday Night: Free but limited amount, so be sure to register in advance
- Saturday & Sunday (March 9th or 10th):
- Adults (18+): $33.50 per day
- Students & Seniors: $23 per day
- Children (ages 5-12): $10 per day
- One-Day Family Pass: $75 (two adults and two children under 13 years of age)
- Little Folks (ages 4 and under): free
Tickets for the Sunday pancake breakfast are only available on site. The breakfast costs $5 for children and $10 for adults.
Festival du Bois Activities
In 2024, the same as in other previous years, Festival du Bois takes place in-person at Coquitlam’s Mackin Park. Some activities occur outdoors and others happen indoors in giant tents.
At the festival there are food vendors and community organization information stalls, as well as games and other activities for children. There is also an Opening Night Contra Dance party on the Friday night and live entertainment all weekend.
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
Opening Night Contra Dance
In 2024 the Opening Night Contra Dance takes place from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm on the Friday at the festival’s Mackin Park venue at 1046 Brunette Avenue. Admission is free, but advanced registration is required.
The Contra Dance is a family-friendly event that involves a style of folk dancing in lines of couples. Back to provide the live music in 2024 is the Sybaritic String Band which specializes in contra dancing. The caller is Maureen Collier and the opening act at the event in 2024 is Podorythmie.
Note: The Contra Dance is open to people of all ages. It’s a family-friendly event that’s recommended for adults and “children who like dancing with adults” (which means there aren’t separate little kids’ activities). It’s a lot of fun!
A few hundred people attend the Contra Dance event most years. Instructions are provided in English, mixed with a bit of French, and then everyone does a particular dance. New instructions are then provided for a new dance, participants go through the steps, and then everyone dances once again.
The dances are simple, fun and lively. Mostly people dance in pairs, and folks are encouraged to switch partners from time to time.
For an idea of what to expect at the Contra Dance, check out the following video. As you’ll see, it’s a ton of fun!
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
2024 Festival Schedule
Festival du Bois happens on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of March 8th, 9th and 10th in 2024. Below is the schedule of events and performances as of early February. Exact details are subject to change.
Friday, March 8th, 2024
The first “official” day of Festival du Bois in 2024 is Friday, March 8th. Opening Night kicks off at 7:00 pm at Mackin Park with entertainment running until 9:30 pm. There’s a performance by Podorythmie. After that, the Friday Night Contra Dance takes place, led by Maureen Collier with music by the Sybaritic String Band.
The above Opening Night events are free. You do, however, have to register in advance. To see a video clip showing what the Contra Dance event looks like, see above. It’s such a fun event, and free to attend!
Saturday, March 9th, 2024
On the Main Stage/Grand Chapiteau
- 12:00 pm – Podorythmie
- 1:00 pm – Official opening with Métis Jiggers
- 2:00 pm – Missy D
- 3:15 pm – Robin Layne and the Rhythm Makers
- 4:30 pm – La Famille LeBlanc
- 5:45 pm – Collage Trad
- 7:00 pm – Vishtèn Connexions
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
In the Petit Chapiteau/Children’s Tent
- 12:00 pm – La Famille Léger
- 1:00 pm – Will’s Jams
- 2:00 pm – Storytelling with Lyne Chartier
- 3:00 pm – Monsieur André
Workshops at Mackin House
- 12:30 pm – Vishtèn Connexions
- 1:30 pm – La Famille Léger
- 2:45 pm – Crankies with Podorythmie
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
Sunday, March 10th, 2024
On the Main Stage/Grand Chapiteau
- 9:00 am – Mass
- 10:00 am – Pancake breakfast
- 10:30 am – La Famille Léger
- 11:30 am – North Shore Celtic Ensemble
- 12:45 pm – Vishtèn Connexions
- 1:45 pm – La Famille LeBlanc
- 2:45 pm – Collage Trad
- 3:45 pm – Robin Layne and the Rhythm Makers
In the Petit Chapiteau/Children’s Tent
- 12:00 pm – Monsieur André
- 1:15 pm – Will’s Jams
- 2:30 pm – Storytelling with Lyne Chartier
- 3:15 pm – Marieclown
Workshops at Mackin House
- 12:30 pm – La Famille LeBlanc
- 1:15 pm – Collage Trad
- 2:30 pm – Monsieur André
There is typically lots of food available at the festival. There are food trucks and various vendors, plus a canteen-style venue in the Grand Chapiteau most years. Prices are all reasonable.
For an idea of what to expect, in past years the menu at the food station in the Grand Chapiteau has included things like pea soup, pork & beans, a slice of tourtière (meat pie) and sugar pie. Other menu items have included bread with pork pâté and a “Lumberjack Plate” with an assortment of items. Beer is also available at the festival’s bar.
Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.
Mackin House Museum
If you’re at Festival du Bois anyway, walk across the street and visit the Mackin House Museum while you’re there.
Built in the early 1900s, the heritage building was the home of the General Manager of Fraser Mills which at one time was the largest sawmill in the British Empire. Admission to the museum is by donation. Expect to stay for just a few minutes, unless there during a performance.
The Mackin House Museum is open Tuesdays to Saturdays. Hours vary depending on the day. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays the attraction is open from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. On Thursdays it’s open from 2:00 to 8:00 pm, whereas Saturday hours are from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Other Information
For more information about the festival in Coquitlam, including the schedule of performances, check out the Festival du Bois website.
Another festival celebrating French culture takes place in Victoria each year. In 2024, Franco Fest runs from March 11th to 16th. To learn more about the series of events, click Franco Fest 2024.
For other Lower Mainland festivals throughout the year, check out our Festivals and Events Calendar.
And for other things to do in the spring, check out our March and April calendars of events.
