BIDDEFORD — For 27 years, La Kermesse Festival Franco-Americain has celebrated the French Canadian heritage of a large population of Biddeford residents.
The festival, held each June at St. Louis field, flourished in the past and its organizers generously shared their largesse by providing financial support to other local organizations and investing in city property.
Over the years, organizers estimate they have invested at least $300,000 for improvements at St. Louis field. This year, however, the group is struggling to pay its bills from the event held in June and the future of the festival is in question.
Making good on what they owe to local businesses “is our first priority,” said Priscille Gagnon, president of the festival’s board of directors. Until then, she said, it is too soon to think about putting on next year’s festival.
This is not the first year the festival has struggled financially. In hopes of remedying their money problems, organizers canceled the free block party and fireworks in the downtown this year, which had been the traditional kick-off of the weekend celebration.
Unfortunately, that was not enough. Events outside the group’s control, from bad weather to a bad economy, conspired against the festival this year.
“Everything this year just did not work out,” said Gagnon. “We were dealt a bad hand.”
A rainy June caused the event to start a day later than planned and another day was also a bust because of the bad weather. In addition, several sponsors the group was counting on to help pay their bills pulled out at the last minute, said Gagnon.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Bourget Amusements, the company that provided the rides at the festival, left town owing the group more than $15,000, which organizers have yet to collect, said Gagnon. Festival organizers have gotten their lawyers involved.
La Kermesse owes their creditors approximately $35,000, said Gagnon, and the results of the bad weather left them with an additional $20,000 of debt.
The heavy equipment utilized for the different activities at the festival sank into the wet ground, causing damage both when they arrived and when they drove off when the event concluded.
Repairing the damage to the field cost in the vicinity of $20,000. Organizers are waiting to hear whether Philadelphia Insurance Company, their insurance carrier, will pay for the damage. If not, it’s unclear whether the City Council will require La Kermesse to pay for the damage.
Gagnon said the group is not adverse to paying the city, but right now they simply do not have the money.
Although Gagnon said the city has not formally asked the group to pay for repairing the field, it has been talked about during informal discussions. In addition, because of the severe damage to the field this year, sports activities that are normally played on the field have had to be moved elsewhere.
On Sept. 17, officers from La Kermesse went before City Council at a special council meeting to discuss the situation.
When the group first began holding La Kermesse at St. Louis field, it was a potato field, Raymond Gagne, vice president of La Kermesse’s board of directors, told the council. Since then, he said, the group has invested at least an estimated $300,000 in St. Louis field.
Because of that and because of their current financial difficulties the group cannot afford to move the festival elsewhere, like Rotary Park as some have suggested, said Gagne.
Many councilors voiced support for La Kermesse.
“I want to go on record that I do not want to see the festival die,” said Councilor Rick Laverriere.
“I don’t think anyone in the city should be blaming you at all,” said Councilor Fred Staples, who said he has attended the festival for many years.
Others councilors were not as forgiving. Festival organizers may not have the funding to pay for repairs to St. Louis field, but neither does the city, said Councilor Bob Mills.
Councilor Clement Fleurent suggested holding the festival later in the summer when the ground is harder, which could minimize damage to the field.
Mayor Joanne Twomey has said that festival organizers should think about doing things differently in the future, such as holding the event in the city’s downtown and maybe even bringing in other groups.
For now, Gagnon said the festival board is discussing how they can raise money to pay the bills they still owe from this year and may work with others to strategize how the festival can continue in the future.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
