Staff Writer

Despite rainy weather, La Kermesse organizers are looking forward to a weekend of family fun.

Priscille Gagnon, president of the Franco-American festival, said the 27^th annual event at St. Louis Field marks a time of change. Despite cancellation of a Thursday night block party, she said the festival remains an affordable weekend emphasizing family fun.

The festival began Wednesday night with opening ceremonies and continues through Sunday. Thursday evening activities include the first La Kermesse Brewers’ Festival, which Gagnon said features 21 microbrew beers. The evening will also include a pig roast and deep fried turkeys.

Gagnon said many families have expressed disappointment about the cancellation of the block party, but lack of financial backing from sponsors made the decision necessary. 

“Even last year we saw some sponsors had cut down on sponsorships,” she said. “It would be difficult to make ends meet if we had the block party. We felt this was not the right year for it.”

Gagnon said the decision was a hard one to make but was made early in the year. Because many families look forward to enjoying rides without buying festival buttons, she said the Hill Street field gate will be open Thursday night for families who want to go on rides only. They will still need to buy tickets for the rides, she said. 

Gagnon said she hopes families coming only for the rides might see all that the festival has to offer and attend other events. On Thursday, the children’s tent will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. for games and face painting, while the band Illusion performs from 7 to 10 p.m. in the main tent. A Magically Medieval magic show is scheduled for 8 p.m. on the field.

The annual Friday parade is scheduled to step off at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets. Longtime Saco barber Red Soucy will serve as grand marshal as the parade makes its way up Main Street to Alfred Street and Graham Street before ending at St. Louis Field.

Despite the recession, Gagnon said many people might find spending $12 or $15 on a button for a weekend-long festival is more affordable than going to the movies. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Weekend highlights include field games, a petting zoo, a Native American Pow-Wow, a French military encampment and a traditional bean supper, she said.

“I’m hoping that because people are not traveling away on vacations, they’ll bring their kids to the festival on the weekend. They can just let their kids enjoy all that we have. I don’t think it’s a bad deal for a while weekend of activities,” Gagnon said. “Kids love to come here because there’s always something to do.”

Though it rained throughout much of the week and a half spent setting up for the festival, Gagnon said Monday she is confident everything will be ready in time. She said in its history, the festival has never been completely shut down because of rain. Gagnon pointed out many of the events take place under large tents.

Gagnon said rain and mud made setting up more difficult than usual. Fewer volunteers showed up to help, though the ones who did know what needs to be done, she said.

“It’s been one of the hardest setup weeks we’ve had in a long time because of the weather. The rain has slowed us down a lot,” she said.

Festival Vice President Ray Gagne said some vendors have been forced to wait to set up because the fields are too wet for large vehicles. Now that it is “crunch time,” they are working to get everything in working order before guests arrive Thursday night, he said. 

“We are in good shape and we definitely will be in full operation by the weekend,” he said.

A full schedule of events is available at www.lakermessefestival.com. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.