BIDDEFORD — A big top covering first base at St. Louis Field and the smell of fried dough in the air can only mean one thing in Biddeford: the return of La Kermesse Franco-American Festival.
This year’s event marked 43 years, as hundreds of festivalgoers celebrated the city’s French heritage.
“We have a really rich Franco-American culture here,” said La Kermesse Marketing Coordinator and board member Abigail Worthing. “We’re trying to keep that spirit alive and also celebrate all of the new culture that’s coming into town.”
Biddeford’s French ties stem from an influx of French Canadian immigrants who left their homes after economic hardship in the 19th century. Many found work in Biddeford’s textile mills and quickly established their culture in the city, according to The Alliance Française du Maine.
For four days, visitors enjoyed a variety of events like live music from local groups like The Alumni Band, festival rides like a Ferris wheel and “The Superman,” and on Sunday, a free crepe party under a giant white tent. Also dotted across the field were dozens of local vendors.
The festival also hosted a parade that goes through town, a wildlife encounter with a local ecology center and a Catholic Mass.
“Opening day on Thursday was a challenge with the weather,” said field crew member Scott Gagne as grey clouds loomed above him on Sunday. “Eventually, I think we did pretty well with numbers.”
Even as the light Sunday drizzle turned into a brief downpour, visitors hopped in line for rides and gathered under the main tent to eat crepes and listen to The Alumni Band.
La Kermesse is organized entirely by volunteers — most with French heritage — including some who have been part of the festivities since they were children. Worthing has been on the board of directors for eight years but grew up attending the festival.
Gagne — sporting a cap with the festival’s logo — said a lot has changed over the 41 years he’s been attending or volunteering at La Kermesse.
There are 15 people on the board of directors this year, which is less than half of what the festival had in its heyday. Gagne theorized that volunteerism has become harder because people are busier these days.
“There’s still a good core group, but it is definitely harder now because of the limited staff that we have,” he said.
Organizers hope the volunteers they have now will carry on the legacy of the festival for generations to come.
La Kermesse also took a hit from COVID when they faced a two-year postponement.
“Back in the day, in like the ’80s and ’90s when I was a kid, the festival was huge,” Worthing said. “We’ve had to downsize a bit, but we’re now bringing it back every year.”
The numbers are steadily increasing, and everything the event makes goes straight back into hosting more festivities the following year, organizers said.
The big top attracts residents and visitors of all ages. From families with young children who are new to the area, to those who have lived in Biddeford for generations, La Kermesse is a community highlight.
Nicole Saucier, a lifelong resident and La Kermesse attendee, brought her son, daughter-in-law and her three small children. The whole family attended to support Saucier’s father, who played a drum during the Mass, and to participate in the parade with a dance studio she owns.
“We came to support the community,” she said. Her kids particularly enjoyed the various rides and shopping at the many booths.
Some travel from afar like Amaya Acevedo, who came from New Hampshire to visit her girlfriend, Mariah Vanegas. They both enjoyed the crepes and the fireworks, which Vanegas said she could see from her backyard across the street from the field.
“All the vendors are really nice too,” Acevedo said. “I think my favorite part was The Superman ride.”
Even in the downpour, visitors could be seen enjoying all that La Kermesse had to offer.