BIDDEFORD – This summer will be the 40th anniversary of the La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Heritage Festival and the La Kermesse board has been pulling out all the stops to make sure it will be an event for Biddeford to remember.

While the La Kermesse Parade is traditionally the Friday of the festival, this year the annual parade will join forces with the Kora Shriners 2023 Summer Celebration on Saturday, June 10, for one incredible parade through the downtown. Courtesy photo

To honor the history of the festival, there will be nods to the past, bringing back past performers and honoring former board members, and a focus on the future and how the festival has grown with new features, including a parade, the likes of which will please young and old.

While the La Kermesse Parade is traditionally the Friday of the festival, this year the annual parade will join forces with the Kora Shriners 2023 Summer Celebration on Saturday, June 10, for one incredible parade through the downtown.

“When the opportunity came up to hold the parade with the Shriners, we knew it could be an amazing parade,” said Dave Jordan, chair of the Parade Committee for the La Kermesse Board. “We have been working day and night to create a parade that will make people want to stake out their spot on the route the night before the parade again.”

Courtesy photo

On June 10 at 10 a.m., the parade route will begin at the corner of Union and Alfred streets and will end at city hall in Biddeford, rather than at St. Louis Field. To kick off the parade, there will be an anticipated 400 Kora Shriners out in full force, leading off in their miniature cars, trucks, and bikes to delight young and old.

“The Shriners are always a big hit, it will be great to have them start off the parade,” said Dave Jordan of the organization, whose primary goal is to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Following the Shriners will be the La Kermesse float, which has this year invited all past board members to ride on or walk with the float as a nod to its long history in the area. Following the float, the La Kermesse Parade Committee said it was proud to note that there will be three local high school bands, with Biddeford High School leading off and followed by Thornton Academy and Old Orchard Beach’s marching bands, as well as the St. Louis Alumni Band and the Dunlap Highlanders Band.

Local organizations and businesses will be marching in the parade as well, with handmade floats and branded automobiles to showcase their love for the community, including local savings institutions and the Lobster Car from Boomers Restaurant on Main Street in Saco.

The La Kermesse Festival will take place on St. Louis field on June 22-25. While the parade will be on June 10th this year rather than on the Friday of the festival, there will still be plenty going on down at the field that weekend. The current schedule, online ticket purchasing, and more information on this year’s 40th anniversary can be found on the website at www.lakermessefesitval.com and the program for the festivities will be printed in the Biddeford-Saco Courier in advance of the festival.

Featured entertainment this year includes AmericanRide, Stone Free, The Don Campbell Band, Master Stroke Experience Queen, and Robert Sylvain and Friends.

For organizations interested in participating in the parade on June 10, there is still time to be involved. The parade will begin to line up at 8 a.m. and the drop-off point for participants will be at St. James School in Biddeford. To participate, fill out an application at the La Kermesse website or call Dave Jordan at 207-502-9940.