The Annual Francophonie en Fête Music Festival is rich in both music and cultural experiences for all tastes and all ages. This year, the Festival will be held from September 21st to the 29th in venues around Toronto. Curious? Well, read on and discover the Best Reasons why you should pencil this festival into your September calendar!
7 Best Reasons to attend Francophonie en Fete
1- Listen to an amazing variety of francophone music
From folk au rock, music from Congo to classics of the French songs, from R&B to blues, almost all kinds of music have been presented during the last 12 editions of the festival. Again this year the festival offers you a unbelievable eclectic musical program: classical music, reggae, contemporary classics, rhythms of makossa and rap are among the numerous type of music that will be represented. Come and enjoy the outdoor concerts and beer garden on September 22 and 23 at the Distillery District . You’ll discover a wide range of music, and perhaps some new favourite sounds and artists!
2- Travel the world, without leaving Toronto
Like the Francophones that comes from all over the planet, the artists of the festival represent a wide range of different sounds from many different cultures. In the past years you could close your eyes and imagine that you were in Senegal during the show of Élage Diouf or in Haiti during the show of Tifane.
This year you can listen to music R&B mixed to African sounds and jazz of Miss Blandine and imagine that you are in Congo. Or join us as we dance and groove to the rhythms of Malagasy Roots and feel like you are in Madagascar.
Close your eyes as you take in the seductive sounds of Boukman Eksperyans and you believe that you are in Haiti.
3- Join the vibrant community of Francophones and Francophiles in Toronto
The francophone community of Toronto is in full bloom, which is a tangible phenomenon at the festival Francophonie en fête. Last year more than 6000 Francophones and Francophiles attended the Festival.
Come and see what our wonderful community is all about! Discover local artists and top talent who come from all 4 corners of the world, and are part of what makes our city so wonderful!
Enjoy refreshments in our beer garden, listen to some of the best music around, and enjoy the opportunity to speak French or brush up a little on your French.
4- Bring your children to French cultural activities
For parents, the festival offers the opportunity for parents to support their children’s French language experience! Come meet others like you. It is also a chance to anchor the language for them within the larger cultural context, and broaden their understanding of what it means to be francophone or francophile.
Our Festival Program o offers something for all ages and is a wonderful family event!
5 The Franco-Ontarian Experience – Discover the wealth Canadian Francophonie
A number of French Canadian artists have appeared at the festival Francophonie en fête: Michel Bénac and its famous Franco-Ontarian group SWING, the star of the Quebec broadcast.
The voice of the Franco-Ontarian artist Céleste Lévis, the dynamic and Franco-Ontarian entertainer of the Acadian artist Lisa Leblanc, ’Mehdi Cayenne from Ottawa, the group indie-folk of New-Brunswick Les Hay Babies.
If you do not already know the richness of musical talent musical of French Canadian artists, it is the chance to discover it! During the 13the Annual Festival, don’t miss Acadian rapper Jacobus, formerly from Radio Radio, and the well loved Franco-Ontarian artist Julie Kim. Julie has just launched her solo career following the success of her group Les Chiclettes!
6- Come and see Stars in a friendly environment
Robert Charlebois, Élage Diouf, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Louis-Jean Cormier, Michel Rivard, Les Cowboys Fringants. The list of musical stars in the past that came to the festival of Francophonie en Fête is long.
We offer a warm, intimate environment to enjoy some of today’s best Francophone talent! We are excited to host Quebec rising star Klô Pelgag at the Spadina Theatre, and the legendary from Haitian group Boukman Eksperyans at the Daniels Spectrum auditorium, enabling you to see these stars close up unlike the mega stadiums in which they often perform.
7- Forget work; come and have fun!
The Francophonie en fête Festival is simply a great way to spend a wonderful evening or an afternoon. If you come to the concerts at the Distillery, you will have an incredible afternoon in an idyllic place, festive ambiance, and where everyone will be in a great mood. Enjoy a glass of beer or wine, take advantage of the amazing fall weather, and relax to some of the best Francophonie music in Toronto.
Plus it’s free! How great are these best reasons to come out and join the fun?
Come enjoy our Afro-Caribbean Music Extravaganza with legendary Boukman Eksperyans from Haiti, or French Canadian super star Klô Pelgag, on stage on September 29th and finish September on a high musical note.
Come join our party of concerts, discover Toronto’s best French Music Festival! Jump online for your tickets and we’ll see you there!