La Kermesse 40th annual festival celebrates history, former board members

BIDDEFORD – This Thursday, June 22, the 40th annual La Kermesse Franco Americaine Heritage Festival will kick off on St. Louis Field in Biddeford. While embracing the future and adding more activities to attract young and old to the field, the 40th anniversary has also been used as an opportunity to look back on all the people who have helped to carry the festival through the decades.

From left, vice president Ray Gagne, treasurer Paul Gagne, board members Dan Villemaire and Jim Jordan at the parade on June 10. Courtesy photo

“Over the years, there have been 156 directors who have served the festival,” said Ray Gagne, vice president of the La Kermesse Franco Americaine Heritage Festival’s board of directors. “This year, we wanted to thank them for how much they have done to keep the festival going. We couldn’t have done it without them, and they deserve our thanks.”

Over the years, serving on the board of directors has been a labor of love for all involved, stemming from both pride in heritage and for the festival that they themselves enjoyed so much over the years. As the La Kermesse Festival is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the entire festival is run on the donated time of volunteers and the all-volunteer board of directors. For most board members, being involved is a family affair, with relatives of former directors now serving on the board and children, parents, and spouses lending a hand throughout the set up on the field.

“Watching the festival come together and seeing the joy it brings to the community makes it all worth it every year,” said board president Jessica Quattrone. “Seeing the generations come together for the festival, at times now seeing third and fourth generation connections on the field, gives me hope that we can keep this going and that my own kids can be involved some day.”

Former board member Connie Remillard and granddaughter Abigail Worthing, current board member. Courtesy photo

Quattrone serves on the board of directors alongside her parents, Joey and Nancy LeBlond, production coordinator and secretary, respectively. Vice president Gagne serves alongside son Scott Gagne, recently retired fire chief for the city of Biddeford. For a third generation, Abigail Worthing carries the torch from grandparents Richard and Connie Remillard, serving as a marketing and entertainment coordinator.

“When my sister and I were kids, we would beg to stay at La Kermesse until the very last song was played, often driving home wedged in the backseat of my memere and pepere’s car,” said Worthing. “When I work on the festival now, it makes me feel close to them, especially my pepere, who passed this past January. I want to keep the festival going strong so that future generations can enjoy it like I did every year.”

Former board members are invited to be honored at the opening ceremony on Friday evening at 5:15 p.m., where the festival will also unveil the new panels of the La Kermesse Quilt.

As a nod to the years gone by, the festival will bring back former entertainment acts that delighted audiences over the years. Ray (LaBoz) Boissoneault is coming out of his retirement to perform on Friday evening. Two favorites of the past will be back on Saturday afternoon on the Outdoor Stage; Dick Coffin performing his variety of impressions and Dana Perkins with his incredible puppet show.

Board members Corey Jacques and Mike Pinard. Courtesy photo

New featured entertainment for the 2023 festival include the Masterstroke Queen Experience on Friday evening from 8:30-11:00 p.m., JimmyJo and the Jumbol’Ayuhs will bring some cajun-flavored music to the Main Tent on Friday and Saturday, and in traditional La Kermesse fashion, Va-et-Vient will be closing out the festival on Sunday with traditional French music.

On the field, for the first time ever La Kermesse will be holding laser tag on the field through Legion Laser Tag, as well as demonstrations on Thursday and Friday by Axe Women Loggers and the Dragon Man.

Some things, however, can never change. On Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. the festival will hold the annual fireworks display, which will be visible from the field at St. Louis Field during the musical break of American Ride on the Main Stage.

“I can’t wait until I’m 18,” said 13-year-old Callie Jacques, daughter of board member Corey Jacques, helping to set up the field on June 14. “I want to be on the board so badly.”