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Vancouver’s Festival du Bois Francophone Festival in Coquitlam

Festival Voyageurs in Costume

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 happened 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


 

Festival du Bois

 

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-kilometre drive from downtown Vancouver.

To learn about the event, continue reading or visit the official festivaldubois.ca website.

 

Festival du Bois at Mackin Park
Festival du Bois at Mackin Park

 

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 at Mackin Park

 

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 took 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 Tent Venue

 

Festival du Bois Admission

Below were the admission prices for 2024 if you paid online as of early February. Tickets at the gate usually cost more.

  • Friday Night: Free but limited amount. Advanced registration was recommended
  • 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 were only available on-site. The breakfast cost $5 for children and $10 for adults.

 

Vancouver's Festival du Bois
Live Music in the Grand Chapiteau

 

Festival du Bois Activities

In 2024, the same as in other previous years, Festival du Bois took 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.


 

Festival du Bois Dance (by Gatan Nerincx)

 

Opening Night Contra Dance

In 2024 the Opening Night Contra Dance took place from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm on the Friday at the festival’s Mackin Park venue at 1046 Brunette Avenue. Admission was free, but advanced registration was 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 was the Sybaritic String Band which specializes in contra dancing. The caller is Maureen Collier and the opening act at the event in 2024 was 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 happened on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of March 8th, 9th and 10th in 2024. Below was the schedule of events and performances as of early February. Exact details were subject to change.

 

Friday, March 8th, 2024


 

The first “official” day of Festival du Bois in 2024 was Friday, March 8th. Opening Night kicked off at 7:00 pm at Mackin Park with entertainment running until 9:30 pm. There was a performance by Podorythmie. After that, the Friday Night Contra Dance took place, led by Maureen Collier with music by the Sybaritic String Band.

The above Opening Night events were free. You did, 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!

 

Contra Dancing at Festival du Bois
Contra Dancing at Opening Night

 

Saturday, March 9th, 2024


 

On the Main Stage/Grand Chapiteau

  • 12:00 pmPodorythmie
  • 1:00 pm – Official opening with Métis Jiggers
  • 2:00 pmMissy D
  • 3:15 pmRobin Layne and the Rhythm Makers
  • 4:30 pmLa Famille LeBlanc
  • 5:45 pmCollage Trad
  • 7:00 pmVishtèn Connexions

 


Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.


 

Will's Jams at Festival du Bois
Wills Jams at Festival du Bois

 

In the Petit Chapiteau/Children’s Tent

  • 12:00 pmLa Famille Léger
  • 1:00 pmWill’s Jams
  • 2:00 pmStorytelling with Lyne Chartier
  • 3:00 pm Monsieur André

 

Workshops at Mackin House

  • 12:30 pmVishtèn Connexions
  • 1:30 pmLa Famille Léger
  • 2:45 pmCrankies with Podorythmie

 


Visit festivaldubois.ca for the festival’s official website.


 

Podorythmie
Podorythmie at Festival du Bois

 

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 amNorth Shore Celtic Ensemble
  • 12:45 pmVishtèn 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 pmMonsieur André
  • 1:15 pm Will’s Jams
  • 2:30 pm Storytelling with Lyne Chartier
  • 3:15 pmMarieclown

 

Workshops at Mackin House

  • 12:30 pm La Famille LeBlanc
  • 1:15 pm Collage Trad
  • 2:30 pm – Monsieur André

 

Le Winston Band
Le Winston Band From a Past Year

 

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.


 

Festival du Bois Bar Folk
Folks in Plaid at Festival du Bois Bar

 

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 and Wednesdays the attraction is open from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. On Thursdays it’s open from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Fridays from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Saturday hours are from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

 

North Shore Celtic Ensemble Workshop
North Shore Celtic Ensemble at Mackin House

 

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 ran 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.