Foire Brayonne

The Foire Brayonne is a music and cultural festival held each summer in Edmundston, New Brunswick since 1979. The Foire is often considered the biggest French festival held in Canada outside the province of Quebec. Next year's festival will be held July 29 to August 2 2009.

History

The first festival was held in 1979 and up to 1985 was a 10 day event. Today the festival is still running strong with five days of activities for all ages.It is always held the week before the New Brunswick Civic Holiday, which is the 1st Monday of August.

Origins of the name Foire Brayonne

The name "Foire Brayonne" stems from the word "Foire" which is French for fair. "Brayonne" is the feminine form of the French word "Brayon" which is the name given to residents of Edmundston and the surrounding Madawaska County area. There has been many disputes as to why this term is used. The word is defined as someone who mixes (such as pancakes or laundry). However some other historians dispute the terms as something else when it comes to the people of Edmundston. They refer to their ancestors' harvesting of reeds from the St.John river valley. These were known as "braye" which they used to weave baskets and make brooms. Therefore the term "brayon"; harvester of braye. Some also believe the name may refer to a coastal region in France. Having left this region for Quebec, the descendants made there way over generations to the St. John river valley. The name perhaps provides a link to their native homeland.

Local Dishes

Many local dishes are served during the Festival such as the ploye, which is a pancake type mix of water and buckwheat flour. There is also chicken stew which is chicken mixed with dumplings and potatoes. It is not similar to chicken noodle soup.They also enjoy Cretons which is a pork based pate.

Another dish is the Teriyaki on a stick where a thin piece of meat is dipped into a mix of teriyaki and barbecue sauce and grilled over an open fire. It was introduced in the late 90's and has become a Foire favorite. (This isn't a local dish, it's a dish favored by the locals)

Major Attractions

One of the Foire's major attractions has been the live concerts. Here is a partial list of artists who have appeared at the Foire:

*René Simard and Nathalie Simard (1983)
*Véronique Béliveau (1985)
*The Box (1986 and 1987)
*Too Many Cooks (1987)
*Glass Tiger (1989)
*Celine Dion (1991)
*Julie Masse (1992)
*Les BB (1992)
*Alannah Myles (1993)
*Roch Voisine (1994)
*France D'Amour (1994)
*Beau Dommage (1995)
*James Ledgerwood (1995)
*Kevin Parent (1995)
*Éric Lapointe (1994 and 1995)
*Moist (1997)
*Great Big Sea (1998)
*Plume Latraverse (1999)
*Claude Dubois (2000)
*Natasha St-Pier (1991 and 2003)
*Yelo Molo (2003 and 2004)
*Les Classels (2003)
*Les Respectables (2003)
*Marie-Chantal Toupin (2004)
*Les Trois Accords (2005)
*Les Cowboys Fringants (2006)
*Hugo Lapointe (2006)
*Jonas (2006)
*Mentake (2006)
*Marie Mai(2006)
*Soldat Louis(2007)
*Martin Fontaine(2007)
*Mobile(2007)
*1755(2008)
*Porn Flakes(2008)

One of the most interesting events of the Foire Brayonne is the Party du Parking. The idea for this party was brought forward by Jo-Anne Volpé, then a member of the organizing committee, and introduced in 1987 after she pleaded to city officials who thought that having a party in a city parking lot was not necessarily the best of ideas. Today, more than 20 years later, the Party du Parking is one the most enduring and successful events of the Foire Brayonne. Every year thousands of people gather on the Friday of the Foire in the parking lot situated downtown, where the street is closed to traffic. Food, beverages and live entertainment is offered. Although sometimes imitated by other festivals in the U.S. and Canada, it is the largest one of its kind in New Brunswick and it has been compared to Mardi Gras.

The Foire relies on sponsorships in order to offer a low entrance fee for its patrons. This year a five day pass to all shows is only $25. Compared to similar festivals, the Foire is arguably one of the best deals of its kind.

Criticism

The Foire is often criticized by the Acadian people as not promoting the culture as a vital part of French New Brunswick. Despite this the Foire has always included Acadian acts and encourages local Acadian talent. This year the Foire will have an Acadian touch as 1755 and Le Grand Dérangement will close out the festivities.

The Edmundston area, despite having a large population of Acadian ancestry, has always been a separate culture from the rest of French New Brunswick. The area was first founded by the English in the 1860's and has since become the 2nd largest majority French speaking city outside of Quebec. Most of the francophones there are from Quebec ancestry, compared to the rest of French New Brunswick which are direct descendants of the first French people to colonise North America back in 1604 in what is now Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Quebec was not founded until four years later in 1608.

Because of the high Quebec ancestry in the Edmundston area and its close proximity to the Quebec border, area residents are in some cases considered by Acadians as non-resident Quebecers.

Most true "Brayons" do not want to be compared to Acadians or Quebecers and ardently call themselves independent "Brayons" from "P'tit Sault" (The original name for Edmundston), which designates the smaller rapids of the river.

Foire Brayonne Directors

*Lise Bourgoin 1991-2001
*Cindy Couturier 2001-2006
*Guillaume L'Italien 2006-2008

External links

* [http://www.foirebrayonne.com Official web site]