French Heritage Day in Vergennes is an educational, fun-filled, family event where French culture is everywhere. Events take place in the shaded City Hall Park, historic Vergennes Opera House, and Otter Creek Basin park beneath the river's falls and kick off on Friday night with a Viellee - a traditional French-Canadian supper and entertainment.

Friday, July 17
6:00-9:00pm   “Veillée”

“Veillée” (evening get- together) in Vergennes Opera House Friday evening with traditional French Canadian supper (serving 6:00-7:00pm) and from 7:00-9:00 featuring Pete & Karen Sutherland with Jeremiah McLane and a Quebec step-dancer/caller/instructor  who promise a lively evening of dance with instruction and song!  Full cash bar available with French wine and beer.  Ticket info:  www.frenchheritageday.com  or 802-388-7951/800-733-8376

Saturday, July 18
Events All Day

Saturday begins with a French Toast breakfast followed by parade at 9:30 a.m.  Day-long activities feature colorful re-enactors, Franco-American music, French-Canadian fiddling, response songs, step-dancing, fencing demonstrations, French food, and traditional craft demonstrations such as spinning, weaving, rug hooking, rag rug making, crocheting, knitting, chair caning and rush weaving, a woodwright, and canoe, basket, knife and fiddle making. Exhibits range from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum's replica canal schooner the Lois McClure to antique vehicles and engines.

Hands-on-fun includes churning ice cream, pumping water, making rope, old-time games and children’s activities. Plan to stroll through the farmers’ market, trace your roots with the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society, or practice your French with any number of people including participating local French conversational groups. Take a horse and carriage ride or join in a French and English-narrated walking tour of the Otter Creek Basin and the City of Vergennes. Explore the historic Otter Creek on a narrated Carillon boat cruise.

Performances in the Vergennes Opera House will include such local groups as Va-et-Vient, La Famille Roy-Coté, plus The Sutlerlands with Jeremiah McLane and a Quebec caller/instortor/step-dancer, Toger perrault, Lausanne LaBombarde, and the Seth Warner Fife and Drum Corps.

Download the events brochure.

For a complete festival schedule and information about tickets and reservations for selected events, click here.

Vergennes is Vermont's oldest city, established in 1788, and is also Vermont's first incorporated city. It is home to about 2,800 people and covers approximately 1200 acres of land. Striking architecture surrounds the shaded City Hall Park, located in the center of the town's vibrant historic downtown that features locally owned shops and distinctive restaurants.  Everything is within an easy stroll. 

The Vergennes Opera House is located very near the City Park. Built in 1897 by and for the people of Vergennes, the Vergennes Opera House is part of a grand tradition of community-based "Opera Houses" that served, historically, as cultural centers and performing arts facilities throughout the United States. It is a perfect venue for select French Heritage Day performances and events.

The picturesque Otter Creek Basin, shown above, is a "four block" walk from downtown.  Providing boaters a direct route to and from Lake Champlain, the park features free boat mooring, fishing, interpretive signage, and park amenities.