French Festival

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French Festival at Sweet Paris with Diane Abrams, Judy Solomon, and Tonya Moses

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Melissa Miketinac (Highland Homes), Brian and Patty Schroeder (The Shops at La Cantera) and Stephane Raveneau (Founder French Festival of SA and owner)

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Mime, Jester and Marie Antoinette entertaining the crowd

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French Festival Sweet Paris - French singer Irenka

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Marie Antoinette (Karine Gomez) and Napoleon (Trevor Gagnon)

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Chef Laurent Rea, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

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Luciano Espinoza serves a Nutella crepe to Luis Morales

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Donovan Guzman has his face painted

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Lisa Robles and Betty Munoz

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Tripp Bassett and Christina Shane

Attendees met on Main Street for a Bastille Day French Festival celebration at The Shops at La Cantera.

In 2022, owner and chef Stephane Raveneau of Sweet Paris Créperie & Café hosted the first French Festival highlighting the French community with a Bocce ball tournament, French classic car display, live jazz manouche music, and restaurant and retail partners. 

This year’s festival included an additional court for 22 teams to participate, even more musicians than years past, and a children’s area so that families can enjoy the experience together. Admission to the festival was free and all drinks and food were sold for $5, making for an economically accessible family-friendly event.

“It is not meant to be a money maker,” Raveneau explains. “It is simply to bring together French natives who live here now and anyone who appreciates all that France has to offer. The participating restaurants and stores are in it for the same reason – to share our culture.”

Editor and Photographer: Leslie Foley