We acknowledge and respect that we live, work, and play on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sinixt people and pay tribute to all other Indigenous peoples, Ktunaxa, Syilx, Secwepemc, who walked these lands before us and cared for them. We show our respect for this land and its inhabitants by committing to support the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
On May 25, 2024, let’s come together and celebrate what characterizes Francophones:
their joie de vivre
a concept we can all identify with!
Whether you speak English, Arabic, Hindi, or French, join the party! With our interactive and family-friendly Francophone-themed challenge area (think giant cheese wheels and larger-than-life poutines!), live performances, a French market, and food, you’ll be immersed in Francophone culture and get to know talented, friendly, and joyful people!
Don’t miss your chance to participate in this event organized by the Association Francophone des Kootenays-Ouest (AFKO), which should be attended by hundreds of like-minded community members!
The YÉ DAY FEST is a unique opportunity to combine the three essential aspects of life in the Kootenays: sports, culture, and arts!
PROGRAM
WHEN: May 25, 1 p.m to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Spokane St, Rossland
WHAT: A game in 3 parts: clues hunt, costume contest, beat 10 challenges. For each successfully completed part, participants have a chance to submit their team name for a chance to win a variety of prizes offered by partners.
FOR WHO: Clue hunt, costume contest, music et market for everyone – Challenge area for 6 to 99 years old: francophones or anglophones!
A life-sized game in 3 parts
> Clue hunt in the windows of participating stores: on your official YÉ DAY FEST passport, match each store to its obstacle starting May 18th
> Costume Contest – how would you represent your Francophonie? Show us on the day of the event on May 25th at 3:30 p.m.
> Area with 10 challenges to conquer on the theme of Francophone cultures on May 25th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For each part completed of the YÉ DAY FEST game, teams of two will have the chance to submit their names into a giant lottery, drew on the day of the event.
You have explored the windows of the participating stores, and identified which challenge is linked to which store represented on the map in your special YÉ DAY FEST passport. Your team name is then entered once into the draw box at the AFKO tent on the day of the event.
On the day of the YÉ DAY FEST, if you come dressed in attire/costume/accessories that remind you of Francophonie, your team name will be entered a second time into the lottery.
As a team, on the big day, if you complete all the challenges, you’ll receive a third opportunity to slip your name into the urn!
In short, the more you play, the more chances you have to win!
Find all the game rules in our special YÉ DAY FEST passport – 2024 edition, available from May 18th at all partner merchants (see below).
Entry fee: $8 per person, $16 for a team
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
- Get your official passport at our partners buisnesses or at AFKO
- Starting May 18th, begin the clue hunt in the windows of participating stores. Each window represents a challenge from the obstacle course zone on May 25th! Connect them on the map!
- On May 25, bring your completed passport to the AFKO tent, and receive your raffle tickets for chances to win the grand prize.
Do you want to have two more chances to win the grand prize?
Come dressed in a Francophone-themed costume, partake in our catwalk, and dare all the obstacles!
Sign up at the AFKO tent.
The prize to be won
A small market of French artisans
Come and experience a French market on Spokane Street in Rossland.“Like the streets of Paris” atmosphere with musicians, living statues, chess game – May 25 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Through our European atmosphere, discover the talents of Francophone artisans from the West Kootenays: woodworking, eco-friendly products, handmade jewelry, and more. All to the sound of the accordion.
Open from 1 p.m., taste our Francophone food trucks. On the menu: sweet and/or savory crepes, and delights from La Ruelle Bakery.
LIVE MUSIC
ALL DAY – from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Artists
Starting at 1 p.m., Spokane Street and Esling Park transform into a festival-worthy stage.
Schedule:
Two young DJs from AFKO will kick off the stage. Be ready to cheer them on as soon as the gates open!
Mad Beats will take over at 2 p.m. Get ready to move!
Our “head DJ” MP has provided us with a Franco sound mashup to accompany the costume parade at 3:30 p.m.
Live musician performances start at 4 p.m.: Sue Pépin will treat us to an exclusive French set.
5:30 p.m.: You might know them from Nelson or from music classes at the Francophone school, but here you’ll see them in action: Onezie Parade!
For YÉ DAY FEST, AFKO.Sérigraphie Studio is stepping out of its walls! From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., come admire the art of screen printing and leave with a personalized print created right before your eyes!
Screen printing is a printing process that uses a mesh screen as a stencil to print on flat surfaces. It’s a method rarely seen live because it requires speed and a lot of preparation.
Bring a piece of clothing and you can screen print it yourself*!
*Subject to availability of responsible persons
YÉ DAY FEST is coming up fast, and we need your help to make this first edition a success for the entire Rossland community.
Interested in volunteering?
In-kind compensation provided in exchange.
Visit this link to learn more
Thanks to our partners
Thanks to our sponsors
