BIDDEFORD — On Monday, dressed in comfy clothes and a visor, Jessica Quattrone walked the field at Biddeford Middle School. She watched as workers and volunteers put up tents, moved items onto the field and made other preparations for the 32nd La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival, which begins Thursday.

Quattrone, president of the board of directors of the La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival, said she’s excited about this year’s festival.

The last few years have been about rebuilding the festival’s image, she said. This year, she hopes the event, which has gone through a number of changes, is finally back on track and will attract more and different people than before.

In 2009-10, the event that celebrates Franco-American heritage took a few licks: Extensive damage to its former home, St. Louis Field, required a change in venue, and legal problems with a past president marred the image of the festival. For the past four years, Quattrone, along with several long-time board members, has been working hard to revamp the festival’s image so that it can continue long into the future.

The event has bounced around for the past few years, from the Biddeford Ice Arena to Mechanics Park near the city’s downtown, where it has been held for the last couple of years. Since neither of those places quite worked out, Quattrone is hopeful that the new venue at BMS will be a hit and become the new home of the festival.

“I think the move will suit the festival much better,” said Mayor Alan Casavant, who was instrumental in bringing the festival to BMS. Holding the event at the school will make it more family-friendly, he said, and “allows more people to participate.”

So far, working with festival organizers has been positive, said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray.

“I’ve had great communication with Jessica and their board,” he said. “They keep me informed of everything.”

By having the festival at BMS, “I hope it will be appealing to more families,” he said.

Another significant modification this year is that La Kermesse is also being held a weekend later than normal, in hopes that the later date will lessen the chances of rainy weather dampening the festivities.

But perhaps the biggest change is that neither smoking nor alcohol will be allowed at the festival this year, because the event will take on school grounds. Quattrone said she’s heard that some fear the ban on alcohol will hurt the festival by decreasing revenue. She sees it differently, said Quattrone, saying that the event will be “more family friendly.” There will be more games, rides and other activities geared to children, she said.

By making these changes, “I think more parents with kids are going to come who haven’t come in the past,” she said. “What parent wants to come to an event with just French music and not much for kids?”

Other activities that have helped broaden the festival’s appeal will continue, such as the World Stage, held in conjunction with the downtown revitalization organization the Heart of Biddeford, which features music and dance from a variety of ethnicities and cultures.

Activities that appeal to the city’s large Franco-American population will also be held. There will be a variety of French music, and this year, the genealogy tent, which traces a family’s genealogy, will return after a long absence.

The traditional parade will take place on Friday at 6 p.m. in Biddeford, and fireworks will take place at BMS on Saturday.

Also, in conjunction with La Kermesse, for the fifth year, the Heart of Biddeford will host a 5K run and walk on Saturday. The event will start at the John F. Kennedy Kindergarten Center at the corner of West and Hill streets, and travel through the downtown.

As long as the weather holds ”“ and so far, the forecast calls for warm, dry weather ”“ Quattrone said she believes La Kermesse will be a success.

“I feel that people are going to come, they’re going to enjoy what’s offered and they’re going to want to come back again next year,” she said.

La Kermesse Franco-Americaine festival will take place June 26-29. Advance tickets can be purchased at many local stores and banks. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit the website, www.lakermessefestival.com.

Registration for the 5K is available through the Heart of Biddeford website at www.heartofbiddeford.org and on active.com through Friday, then on Saturday, at the event, from 7-8 a.m. at JFK.

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