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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula December 7, 2006 Text © 2006 Dave Bezotte and Village of Lake Linden. Photos © 2006 Jim Kurtti and Michele Anderson.

Lake Linden to present French Canadian music, dance Dec. 9

HOUGHTON -- Enjoy an afternoon of French-Canadian music and dance from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the American Legion Lakes Lounge, Calumet and 4th streets in Lake Linden. The program will include traditional folk songs and holiday songs in both French and English, with plenty of opportunities to sing along. Live music will provide  French Canadian fiddle tunes for listening and dancing and will accompany lessons in folk dancing and a lesson in the rhythmic foot tapping often heard in French Canadian dance music.

Helen Fortin Valentyik, originally of Québec, plays her accordion and demonstrates traditional French Canadian foot tapping during the French Canadian music event held in August 2006 at the Chassell Heritage Center. In the background are members of the chorus and the band. (Photo © 2006 Jim Kurtti. Reprinted with permission.)

Participating singers, dancers, and musicians include Dave Bezotte, Amanda Binoniemi, Hester Butler, Evan Dixon, Marcia Goodrich, Ralph Horvath, Kateryna Lapina, Barbara Lide, Deb McDowell, Beth Murrell, Eli Ochshorn, Barry Pegg, Wellesley and Christian Pereira, Leroy Steinbacher, Kelly Suvanto, Oren Tikkanen, Helen Fortin Valentyik, Jan Wieber, Mary and Patrick Younk and, we hope, YOU!

Barry Pegg (standing at microphone), with event organizer Dave Bezotte at the keyboard, right, leads the chorus in singing "Chevaliers de la table ronde" during the French Canadian music and dance event last August in the Chassell Heritage Center. The group will again perform and lead the audience in singing French folk and holiday songs on Dec. 9 in Lake Linden. (Photo © 2006 Michele Anderson)

Some of the holiday songs to be included in the "Chansons à Répondre," or sing-along response songs are "Douce Nuit" (Tune: "Silent Night"), "Noel Blanc" (Tune: "White Christmas"), "Mon Beau Sapin" (Tune: "O Christmas Tree"), "Le Petit Renne au Nez Rouge" (Tune: "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer"), "Les Anges Dans Nos Compagnes" (Tune: "Angels We Have Heard On High") and "Vive le Vent" (Tune: "Jingle Bells").

This event is part of the Village of Lake Linden's French Canadian Christmas celebration. Admission is free.

Local folk dancers lead audience participants in a French Canadian dance during the August 31, 2006, French Canadian music event at the Chassell Heritage Center. (Photo © 2006 Michele Anderson)

Other events to be held for the Lake Linden French Canadian Christmas Dec. 9 include the following:

Lunch and Bazaar Sale by the women of United Methodist Church, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Lake Linden United Methodist Church, one block west of Calumet Street on
First Street. Free hot chocolate!

Santa arrives at the Loading Zone II, Noon to 2 p.m.

Crafts for Children, Noon to 3 p.m., at LL-H Elementary School by BHK Great Explorations.

Art Sale, Noon to 5 p.m., at Yarns and Threads, 328 Calumet Street. Meet guest artists and see their latest creations.

Horse and Wagon Rides through the Village, Noon to 4 p.m.

Traditional French Canadian Pork Pie Tasting and Sale, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Joseph Church.

"Canoe Song: A Voyager's Tale" will be presented by Prairie Folklore Theatre* at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Lake Linden United Methodist Church, one block west of Calumet Street on First Street, as part of Lake Linden's French Canadian Christmas celebration.

Barry Cloyd and Brian Ellis recreate the cross country canoe trip taken by Etienne Renault and Father Zenoble Membre in the late 1600s. Through traditional paddling songs and true stories they describe the adventures of the hardy explorers and fur traders. Sing-along songs in French and original ballads give voice to the struggles and triumphs of these intrepid explorers.

The event is free, but the organizers request that tickets be ordered in advance because of limited seating. Tickets are available at The Lake Linden Village Hall, Loading Zone II, Yarns and Threads or by calling Nancy at 296-9568.

The "Canoe Song" is supported by the Copper Country Community Arts Council and is a program of the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs.

* Visit the Praire Folklore Theatre Web site.

Lake Linden's French Canadian Christmas is sponsored by the DDA of the Village of Lake Linden. For more information contact Nancy at 296-9569.

Editor's Note: Read about the December 2005 French Canadian Music Event held in Lake Linden and see more photos in Keweenaw Now's article, "Lake Linden celebrates French Canadian Christmas with song and dance."