BIDDEFORD — A casino, pig roast, brewfest and La Kermesse Idol auditions were some of the activities that took place on Friday, the first day of the 28th annual festival that celebrates the city’s rich Franco-American heritage.

This year the La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival is being held at a new venue, at the Biddeford Ice Arena and Expo, instead of the St. Louis Field. Fewer events and activities will take place this year compared to last year’s festival. It will be a very different festival than those of the past. But festival organizers are cautiously optimistic that the community will support the scaled-down festival and make it a success.

“We hope to have a good turnout,” said the treasurer of the La Kermesse Board of Directors, Paul Gagne.

Although there will be less attractions than in the past, “It’s going to be a worthwhile event for people to come to,” he said.

For those who aren’t familiar with the story, Joseph Plamondon, a man who was very active in the Biddeford community, came up with the idea for La Kermesse, after attending a similar event in Lewiston. Lewiston, like Biddeford, has a large Franco-American population.

Sadly, Plamondon, who had set the wheels in motion, died in May 1983, about a month before the first La Kermesse was held, said Norman Beaupre, the first board president of the organization which puts on La Kermesse.

In order to make the festival possible that first year, the volunteer organizers held a garage sale and raised $500 to get the event started, said Beaupre.

On July 1, 1983, thousands of people lined the roads of Biddeford’s downtown as a parade featuring floats, marching bands, and state and local dignitaries, snaked through the streets from City Hall to St. Louis Field, to celebrate the city’s first La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival.

That year the festival was held from July 1-4; it has since been moved to the end of June. An estimated 25,000 visited the field during the first festival which celebrates the city’s rich Franco-American heritage, according to a Journal Tribune account at that time.

 No admission was charged to get onto the field for events including puppet shows, food booths, a casino, arcades, French music.

“It was a tremendous success,” said Beaupre.

The purpose of the festival, said Annette Ouellette, in 1983, one of the early event organizers, is that it “will serve to bring people closer and is a giant step forward in helping to preserve heritage.”

After the success of the first year, the event grew bigger in the ensuing years. While the following year the organizers began to charge people admission to attend, they added a free block party, complete with fireworks, in the city’s downtown, that took place the day prior to the official start of La Kermesse.

Larger ride were added as was more and different types of entertainment.

The “heyday” for the festival when it offered the most in the way of activities and had the greatest attendance was from the mid-1990s to earlier this decade, said Gagne.

In recent years, the economic downtown and other factors have led to a decrease in revenue with fewer attractions and lower attendance.

Two years ago a lack of sponsors resulted in organizers deciding to cancel the free block party and fireworks.

This year, the kick-off parade was canceled as well and there was a move to a new venue with even fewer attractions.

Last year’s event resulted in a perfect storm of circumstances which many had feared would mean the end of the festival.

The weather was uncooperative. The seemingly unending rain caused multiple problems. There was low attendance and the field was significantly damaged when rides and tents were taken down at the end of the event.

Because of the damage and the $25,000 to cost to repair it, the city did not allow the festival to be held at the traditional venue, the St. Louis field, this year.

There were also financial difficulties, and some of the vendors the organization did business with are still owed money from last year’s festival.

Most recently, the past president of the organization, Priscille Gagnon, was indicted of charges of theft and misuse of entrusted property against the festival a condominium association. She pled not guilty to the charges on June 16.

Because of the difficulties, some think changes to La Kermesse are needed.

Mayor Joanne Twomey said she would like some drastic changes, such as moving the event downtown and making it a multi-cultural festival.

“Biddeford is a melting pot now, it’s not just French Canadian,” said Jim Plamondon, the son of Joseph Plamondon.

Jim Plamondon’s mother, and Joseph’s widow, Mignonne Plamondon said she thinks her husband would be disappointed by recent events but, she said, she still supports the festival and will be attending this year.

Mignonne Plamondon said she thinks the festival should be allowed back on the field in the future.

Beaupre agreed. “It’s an outdoor festival and it belongs on the field,” he said.

As to whether the festival should become more multi-cultural, “It’s a Franco heritage festival,” he said. “It wouldn’t work to change it.”

After this year’s festival is over, organizers should sit down and figure out what the scope of the festival should be, said Jim Plamondon.

We need to ask ourselves, “Where do we belong?” he said, “Whose our largest market?”

Gagne said organizers plan to ask those questions and more once the weekend is over. He added he thinks the festival does have community support. “If we don’t, this weekend will prove it,” said Gagne.

La Kermesse attractions for this weekend include: Activities for children, such as kiddie rides, face painting and a petting zoo; various musical performances by French and American entertainers, including the continuation of the La Kermesse Idol competition; craft and food vendors; a casino; and a Catholic mass at 9 a.m. on Sunday will be followed by a crepe breakfast at 10 a.m.

For more information about the event visit the La Kermesse website at: www.lakermessefestival.com

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.