For nearly three decades, La Kermesse, Biddeford’s premier summer festival, a celebration of its Franco-American heritage, has brought thousands of people into the twin cities for fun, food and family.

One of the key elements of the festival has been the Thursday block party, where music, food and fireworks ruled the night. As thousands of people (more than the population of Biddeford and Saco combined) jammed the area of Mechanics Park on Main Street, the power of the festival always seemed unending.

Unfortunately, with a massive collection of amusement rides, entertainers and fireworks comes a massive expense. Even though the La Kermesse organization put on a good show, the lack of sustaining sponsorship and ever-increasing costs created a budgetary black hole not seen by the crowds, until now.

This year, Main Street won’t be flooded by humanity on Thursday: The block party and fireworks have been canceled.

Though the organizers of the festival begrudgingly canceled the event, they have provided for something much more positive, much greater. Instead of dying in its 27th year, La Kermesse has a chance of seeing a 30th anniversary.

We think the move was what was best, knowing a summer in Biddeford without La Kermesse would just not feel right, or be the same.

The focus has been put back on what makes the festival great: Fun on the St. Louis grounds. New attractions have been added with the intent of bringing revenue and new faces to the fair.

At the same time, the tried and true events and family oriented genealogy programs continue, which is what La Kermesse is all about.

French is still familiar within the city boundaries of Biddeford. From family names to Sunday gatherings of French speakers to the clubs that dot the community, Franco-Americanism is alive and well here.

Having a way to mark that heritage, which is familiar to Maine but not to much of the rest of the nation, is essential. As the traditional emblems of the power of the French influx disappear, festivals and events to mark one of the greatest portions of our ethnic community are necessary.

We hope that La Kermesse finds a way this year to right the budget and keep moving into the future. Possessing the frog-adorned buttons should be a right of passage for future generations of children, and not something just for collectors and displays in museums.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Publisher Drew McMullin at 282-1535, Ext. 326 or dmcmullin@gwi.net, or Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535, Ext. 327 or cityeditor@gwi.net.

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