After a three year hiatus because of COVID-19, Le Festival 2023 returns to Brisbane tomorrow, Friday 21 July until Sunday 23 July for a three day celebration of France and French culture. Le Festival 2023 will take place in a new location, Victoria Park/Barrambin.
WHAT’S ON AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
Le Festival 2023 truly has something for everyone!
Visit the French market stalls where you’ll find French food, drinks and other products. An Artist’s tent will showcase and be selling the wares of various French and French-inspired artists.
The main stage will have entertainment across a variety of genres including French chanson, can can dancers, burlesque, Polynesian dancers and more. Roving entertainers will also surprise you around the festival grounds. Trish Hayward, who we interviewed a few years ago, will be among the singers on the main stage.
Kids will be entertained in the kids’ corner which will have fencing, boxing, karate, parkour, art workshops, and a Paris Olympics themed colouring-in wall.
LE MARCHÉ – FRENCH MARKET STALLHOLDERS AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
French foods showcased at Le Festival 2023 include cheeses, crepes, breads, and truffles. There will also be waffles, saucissons, plus macarons, nougat and other French sweets.
French online supermarket France at Home will be selling some of its impressive range of French supermarket items.
LE BAR – FRENCH BAR AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
A French celebration is never complete without a glass of Champagne or another French beverage to say “tchintchin”!
So, Le Festival 2023’s French bar will offer you a selection of French beverages:
- Champagne Laurenti NV
- Sparkling – Veuve Ambal Rosé
- Kir Royal
- Red wines: Lussac St Emilion or Pinot Noir
- White wines: Pinot Gris or Kir
- Rosé de Provence
- Frenchies Beer
- Ricard Aperitif
- Beer, Orangina, Oasis, Perrier, Evian, and
- ‘vin chaud’ (mulled wine) to warm you up!
KIDS CORNER AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
There are plenty of activities to keep kids entertained at Le Festival 2023!
On Saturday and Sunday, Le Festival’s “Coin d’Enfants” will keep the youngest of Francophiles and Francophones entertained all day long! Activities include fencing, boxing, karate, parkour, art workshops, and a Paris Olympics themed colouring-in wall. There will even be a mini-olympics with a variety of competitions including an obstacle race, water and spoon race, long jump, tugs of war, shot put and more.
AU CINÉ AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
The Alliance Française de Brisbane presents an outdoor cinema showing French short films at Le Festival 2023.
Choose from the following films:
ANIMATION
Akissi
Au pays de l’aurore boréale
Bach-Hông
Boriya
Le chasseur et l’antilope
L’Odyssée de Choum
Maman pleut des cordes
Précieux
Vanille
Vibrato
FILM
Chien bleu
Entracte
Expire
Les Divas du Taguerabt – 3ème Scène de l’Opéra de Paris
LES ARTISTES – FEATURED ARTISTS & ARTISANS AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
Le Festival 2023 will also have a dedicated artists’ area to showcase creativity ‘a la française’ at its best.
The artisans and artisans are a variety of local, from interstate, French and French-inspired creators and artisans:
- Bagua Lala with her range of earrings
- Bluebell Art paintings
- Botanicatopia paintings
- Catch Coeur Jewellery including French doll necklaces
- Fat Kitten Creative jewellery
- Florence Joly jewellery
- French Inspired handmade decorations, gifts and homewares and upcycled vintage finds
- Hélène Magisson illustrated children’s books
- IndigoJY soaps
- Little Wild Lines art and apparel.
- MAWI Australia naturally insulated coolers bags, lunch bags & bottle coolers, handmade w virgin sheep wool
- Nancie Lane art
- Theoria Gold Perfumery botanical fragrances
LES AUTEURS – FRENCH AUTHORS AT LE FESTIVAL 2023
Meet four acclaimed French authors – Olivier Vojetta, Céline de Roany, Leslie Heliade, Isabelle Cornet – at Le Festival on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July!
Hear them speak about their most known works, many of which have been finalists in prestigious awards, and their literary journey.
LA FRESQUE DU CLIMAT – CLIMATE FRESK
Get ready to meet like-minded people passionate about sustainability and climate education during the day on Saturday and Sunday at Le Festival 2023. Climate Fresk Australia will facilitate a series of workshops designed to make you think about climate change, its causes and effects, and simple yet effective actions and meaningful solutions.
LA TOMBOLA – LE FESTIVAL 2023 RAFFLE
To give back to their ‘fabuleux’ followers; Le Festival always has a raffle – or maybe two!
They have a great range of prizes to be won in the raffle:
- 1st Prize: return flight for 2 people to New Caledonia with 3 nights’ accommodation
- 2nd Prize: 1 night for two including breakfast at NOVOTEL South Bank
- 3rd Prize: Le Spa Massage pamper package ($180 value)
- 4th Prize: $500 gift voucher for France Travel Solutions
- 5th & 6th Prizes: $65 gift vouchers to enjoy a meal at La Belle Vie Bistro
Purchase your ticket for a chance to win via this link. You will also be able to purchase tickets at La Boutique de Maurice!
FRENCH ASSOCIATIONS
Several French associations will have stalls at Le Festival 2023:
- Alliance Française de Brisbane
- Brisbane Accueil
- Brisbane French Theatre
- Conseillère des français à l’étranger
- French Assist
- French Australian Association of Queensland
- French Australian Brisbane School
- FACCI
- Les Petits Princes Programme bilingue français (TSS and WHSC)
- Radio 4EB
- Solidarité
- UFE
LES VIEILLES VOITURES – VINTAGE CARS
Admire a display of French vintage cars, which will also make a fantastique backdrop for photos!
LA BOUTIQUE DE MAURICE – LE FESTIVAL 2023 MERCHANDISE
Visit La Boutique de Maurice to purchase a souvenir of your weekend with Le Festival to take away with you! Choose from an Official Le Festival t-shirt – new and vintage, an iconic Le Festival red scarf, Le Festival glass water bottles, Le Festival “Save the Planet” jute shopping bags, classique and prestige berets, small to large size decorative Eiffel Towers, traditional French espadrilles, French posters and postcards, keyrings… and much more!
They will also be selling traditional French Saint James marinières (striped tops), tea towels, and net bags from Le Comptoir Français, plus a range of French children’s toys from S’il Te Plaît!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Tag Le Festival in your photos on social media!
@lefestivalbne @BrisbaneFrenchFestival #lefestivalbne #LeFestival2023
KEY INFO FOR LE FESTIVAL 2023
WHAT: Le Festival, French festival
WHERE: Victoria Park/Barrambin, Brisbane
WHEN: Friday 21 July – Sunday 23 July
- Friday 4-9pm ALREADY SOLD OUT (but a few tickets available on the gate)
- Saturday 8am – 9pm
- Sunday 8am – 5pm
HOW: Purchase your ticket via Le Festival 2023’s website
HOW MUCH: Ticket prices are as follows:
- Friday 21 July: Entry is free for everyone!
- For Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July, tickets for adults and children over 13 cost $12 when purchased online. $15 on the gate otherwise
- You can also purchase a two day pass for Saturday and Sunday for $20 when purchased online. It’s not clear if the 2 day pass is going to be available at the gate.
- Children 12 and under enter for free all weekend
For more events happening in July with links to France and the Francophonie, check out our What’s on in July
