Foire Brayonne facts for kids
The Foire Brayonne is a fun music and culture festival that happens every summer in Edmundston, New Brunswick. It has been held since 1985. Many people think it is the biggest French festival in Canada outside of Quebec. The festival usually takes place in August at different spots around Edmundston.
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History of the Festival
The very first festival was held in 1978. Until 1985, it was a big event that lasted for 10 days. Today, the festival is still going strong with five days of exciting activities for everyone. It happens the week before the New Brunswick Civic Holiday, which is the first Monday in August.
What Does "Brayonne" Mean?
The name "Foire Brayonne" comes from two words. "Foire" is a French word that means "fair" or "market." "Brayonne" is the female form of "Brayon." This is a special name for people who live in Edmundston and the nearby Madawaska County area.
There are different ideas about why this name is used. One idea is that "Brayon" means someone who mixes things, like pancake batter. Another idea comes from history. Some people believe the name refers to their ancestors who gathered reeds from the Saint John River valley. These reeds were called "braye" and were used to make baskets and brooms. So, "Brayon" could mean someone who harvests "braye."
Some also think the name might connect to a region in France called Pays de Bray in Normandy. People from this area moved to Quebec, and then their families eventually came to the Saint John River valley. The name might be a way to remember their old homeland.
Delicious Local Foods
Many tasty local dishes are served during the festival. One popular food is the ploye. This is a type of pancake made from water and buckwheat flour. Another favorite is chicken stew, which has chicken mixed with soft dumplings and potatoes. People also enjoy cretons, which is a spread made from pork.
Even though it's not a traditional local dish, "teriyaki on a stick" is very popular. It's a thin piece of meat dipped in a mix of teriyaki and barbecue sauce, then grilled over a fire. It became a festival favorite in the late 1990s.
Fun Things to Do at the Foire
The festival tries to keep ticket prices low thanks to help from sponsors. For example, in 2014, a five-day pass to all shows cost only $35. This makes the Foire one of the best deals for a festival of its kind.
If you want to learn about the area's history, you can visit "La Promenade de la Republique." This is an exhibit that shows what life was like in the area during the Victorian era.
There's also a big park just for kids! It has live shows, bouncy games, and you can even get your face painted. You can also take a picture with Typique, a friendly porcupine mascot who is important to the region's history.
Other fun activities include an outdoor church service celebrating French culture, a large parade, cool car shows, sports games, and an arts and crafts market.
Live Concerts and Music
One of the biggest attractions at the Foire is the live concerts. Many famous artists have performed here. Here is a list of some of them:
- René Simard and Nathalie Simard (1983)
- Véronique Béliveau (1985)
- The Box (1986–1987)
- Too Many Cooks (1987)
- Glass Tiger (1989)
- Celine Dion (1991)
- Julie Masse (1992)
- Les BB (1992)
- Alannah Myles (1993)
- Roch Voisine (1994)
- France D'Amour (1994 and 2013)
- Beau Dommage (1995)
- James Ledgerwood (1995)
- Kevin Parent (1995)
- Éric Lapointe (1994 and 1995)
- Moist (1997)
- Great Big Sea (1998)
- Plume Latraverse (1999)
- Claude Dubois (2000)
- Natasha St-Pier (1991 and 2003)
- Yelo Molo (2003 and 2004)
- Les Classels (2003)
- Les Respectables (2003)
- Marie-Chantal Toupin (2004 and 2010)
- Les Trois Accords (2005)
- Les Cowboys Fringants (2006)
- Hugo Lapointe (2006)
- Jonas (2006)
- Mentake (2006 and 2009)
- Marie Mai (2006)
- Soldat Louis (2007)
- Martin Fontaine (2007–2009)
- Mobile (2007)
- 1755 (2008)
- Michel Pagliaro (2009)
- Gildor Roy (2009)
- Guy A. Lepage (2009)
- Elizabeth Blouin-Braithwaite (2009)
- Tailor Made Fable (2010)
- George Belliveau (2010)
- Collective Soul (2010)
- Music Group A (2012–2013)
- Alter Ego (2012–2013)
- Les Vickings (2013)
- Marc Dupré (2014)
- Jérôme Couture (2014)
- André-Philippe Gagnon (2014)
The Party du Parking
One of the most exciting events at the Foire Brayonne is the Party du Parking. This idea came from a committee member named Jo-Anne Volpé in 1987. She asked city leaders if they could have a big party in the city's parking lot. Even though they had some doubts, the city leaders agreed. Today, more than 20 years later, the Party du Parking is one of the most popular and successful events at the Foire Brayonne. Many people come to this event just to experience it, as it has become very famous by word-of-mouth.
Every year, thousands of people gather on the Friday evening of the Foire in the downtown Edmundston parking lot. There is Food, beverages, and live entertainment. Other festivals in Canada and the United States have tried to copy it, but this is the biggest one of its kind in New Brunswick. It has sometimes been compared to Mardi Gras because of its large crowd and fun atmosphere. What makes the Party du Parking special is that even with thousands of people in one small area, the party is very well-managed. People are usually very well behaved.
Understanding the Local Culture
The Edmundston area has a unique culture. Many people there have Acadian ancestry, but their culture is often seen as different from the rest of French New Brunswick. Edmundston is the second-largest city outside of Quebec where most people speak French. Most French speakers in Edmundston have ancestors from Quebec. This is different from the rest of French New Brunswick, where people are often direct descendants of the first French settlers in North America from 1604. Quebec was founded four years later.
Because many people in Edmundston have Quebec ancestors and the city is close to the Quebec border, some Acadians sometimes see them as being more like Quebecers. However, some "Brayons" want to be known as their own unique group, separate from Acadians or Quebecers. They proudly call themselves independent "Brayons" from "P'tit Sault," which was the original name for Edmundston and means the smaller rapids of the river.
Foire Directors
- Lise Bourgoin (1990-2001)
- Cindy Couturier (2001-2006)
- Guillaume L'Italien (2006-2008)
- Éric Thériault (2008-2011)
The current director is Cindy Couturier.
