Festival du Bois returns for its 36th amazing year with an exciting roster of music artists and performers slated to grace the stages of the big heated tents at Mackin Park in Maillardville (Coquitlam), the centre of francophone culture in BC. All is set to go for a great weekend of music, dance, frolic and fun for all ages.
This year’s lineup of performers offers music and dance rooted in French Canadian, Celtic, Folk and World traditions, along with new and contemporary sounds for all ages. From New Brunswick to BC, the 2025 festival artists promise an exciting weekend featuring both the familiar and well-loved and some musical adventures.
The festival opens Friday night, March 7, with a Contradance – a very popular festival tradition – in the Grand Chapiteau (Big Tent) in Mackin Park. Also, as part of this tradition, folks can attend this evening for free to dance to the music of Vancouver’s premiere contradance group, The Sybaritic String Band.
Along with great music, there are lots of other on-site activities and entertainment for all from Nova Scotia to Québec, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and BC. The concert Main Stage and dance floor of the Grand Chapiteau welcomes the following groups and artists: enjoy. Everyone is welcome to attend – Festival du Bois is friendly, affordable, and fun for the whole family.
YVES LAMBERT ET LE GRAND ORCHESTRE – Lambert and a stellar 7-piece orchestra celebrate 50 years of Lambert’s legendary music-making with tunes from La Bottine Souriante’s repertoire and more (Lambert was a founding member). The group has one performance only – on Saturday, March 8. Yves and co’s concert is truly something not to be missed!
LeFLOFRANCO (or simply: FLO) is a Franco-Ontarian rapper of Haitian origin whose hip hop ventures towards the pop, the electro, as well as the sounds of the Caribbean. FLO’s colourful rhythms meet texts as thoughtful as they are accessible.
Jocelyn Pettit is a vibrant and in-demand fiddle player, step dancer, and singer. She presents lively performances of traditional, contemporary and original music inspired by the cultures of Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, and Galicia.
La Patente travels to the festival from New Brunswick to deliver a unique cocktail of punk-rock and country-folk. The band’s explosive energy and raw, razor-sharp music ignites even the coldest stages.
La Déferlance plays refreshing and brightly-coloured Québec traditional music along with tunes both fresh and new. The quartet’s repertoire is made up not only of lively tunes and traditional arrangements, but also includes entirely original compositions.
BC’s Kutapira perform a tasty fusion of Zimbabwean marimba with West African and Afro-Cuban percussion. When you add reggae, samba, Afrobeat, funk, jazz, cumbia, disco and hip hop to the mix, they contribute to a fusion of styles seamlessly blended, and powerfully performed.
Alouest, a dynamic trio from Maillardville, proudly revives the traditional songs of the French-Canadian culture by adapting new arrangements and musical styles with a decidedly west coast perspective.
For more info on 2025 Grande Chapiteau artists, visit the festival’s website: https://www.festivaldubois.ca/
In the CHILDREN’S TENT (Petit Chapiteau), kids and families will thrill to performances and presentations by Will’s James, Isabelle Kirouac, Micah and Profaqua. There are more surprises on site, too, including roving performances that engage and entertain.
Also on-site in Mackin Park audiences can enjoy exhibits, participatory activities, food truck fare including French Canadian cuisine traditionnelle – tourtière, maple taffy on snow, poutine and other delicacies, licensed beverages, as well as some unique shopping. Nearby Mackin House, located across the street from the festival’s main gate, hosts a range of fun and informative workshops with festival artists. It all makes for a special weekend of celebration that folks of every age, culture, language, origin and background can enjoy.
Friday night Contradance, March 7: FREE (reserve tickets on the festival website)
Children 12 and under can attend the entire Festival for free!
Sunday, enjoy a pancake breakfast for $10 (adults) & $5 (children) – not included in admission (purchase tickets on
Festival info and Tickets at www.festivaldubois.ca
General info: 604-515-7070 / info@maillardville.com
Mackin Park, Maillardville/Coquitlam
1046 Brunette Avenue (across the Lougheed Highway from IKEA)