On Sunday, October 18, 2026, attendees boarded the 11 a.m. ferry to Wolfe Island to gather at St. Margaret’s Hall for Escapade folklorique. The day featured storytelling, traditional music, dancing, and a delicious soup to share. Above all, it was a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate Franco-Ontarian folklore.
Escapade folklorique came about following an invitation from the Centre franco-ontarien de folklore as part of its 10 Stories in 10 Cities project, launched to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Les vieux m’ont conté festival. The goal was to bring stories to communities across the province and celebrate the folklore that forms part of our shared heritage.
To bring this initiative to life in our region, the Centre culturel Frontenac was fortunate to collaborate with the RSIFEO, FACSFLA, Les Tréteaux de Kingston, and Desjardins. Together, these partnerships helped bring more community members together for a day that went far beyond a traditional performance.
The storytelling session transported us into fantastical folk worlds, where stories sparked the imagination while offering meaningful little lessons along the way. These tales remind us that stories are much more than entertainment: they are also a way to pass down values, memories, and cultural traditions from one generation to the next. During the storytelling session, attendees also enjoyed a traditional French-Canadian pea soup prepared by Fishtale Shop for lunch.
After the stories, the day continued to the lively sounds of traditional music. Teilhard Frost and Benoit Schryer-Lefebvre brought their violins and rhythmic percussion to life, even using their legs as instruments. At one point, Teilhard also made a little puppet dance, adding a playful touch to the performance.
The music then gave way to called dancing, led by Maryse Chalifoux and Tom Henbest. Some participants were already familiar with the steps, while others were learning them for the first time. With guidance from the callers, everyone had the opportunity to learn the moves and join in, making the dance a fun and inclusive shared experience.
What made the Folk Getaway so special was the community’s involvement. Unlike a performance where audiences primarily come to watch, this gathering was a genuine opportunity to connect, learn, and share. Many families, along with older community members, came together to discover or rediscover different aspects of folklore.
That is what makes these gatherings so valuable: they offer a meaningful way to keep Franco-Ontarian heritage alive, build connections between generations, and inspire new audiences to discover our traditions.
A heartfelt thank you to the Centre franco-ontarien de folklore for the invitation and for co-presenting the event, as well as to the Les vieux m’ont conté festival, Desjardins, the RSIFEO, FACSFLA, and Les Tréteaux de Kingston for their valued collaboration. We would also like to thank Françoise Crête and Sklaeren for their storytelling, Teilhard Frost and Benoit Schryer-Lefebvre for the music, Maryse Chalifoux and Tom Henbest for leading the called dances, Fishtale Shop for the delicious soup, and all our volunteers for their help.
Finally, thank you to everyone who made the trip to Wolfe Island and helped make this day a true gathering of connection and sharing. Together, we can keep folklore alive and pass this precious heritage on to future generations!
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to our partners and funders for their support throughout the season:
Canadian Heritage | Ontario Arts Council | Ontario Government | City of Kingston | Kingston Arts Council | Tourism Kingston | Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario | Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est | Community Spirit Gaming Centre | Réseau Ontario | ACFO Mille-Îles | Les Voyagements | Les Tréteaux de Kingston | | Fédération culturelle canadienne-francaise | PassepART | Théâtre Action | Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone de l’Est de l’Ontario | The Kick & Push Festival | Skeleton Park Arts Festival | Live Wire Music Series | le FestivÎLES | Gananoque Town | Centre franco-ontarien de folklore | Mayla | LaVida Bistrobar & Social | The Duchess Pub | The Iron Duke