Biddeford's La Kermesse is canceled

BIDDEFORD — This year’s La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival has been canceled.

The annual festival is a local tradition, celebrating the community’s French heritage with a parade, traditional food, music and amusements. This year’s event was scheduled for June 25-28, and organizers announced on social media on Sunday that the 2020 La Kermesse festival has been canceled.

The state is currently following social distancing practices to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and Governor Janet Mills recently issued an executive order phasing in a four-stage plan to “reopen” the state. According to the governor’s plan, in June gatherings will be limited to 50 people. 

“With our festival scheduled during the third weekend in June, this timeline will not allow us the proper social distancing within our Festival boundaries at St. Louis Field in Biddeford,” said organizers on Facebook.

This year would have marked the 38^th La Kermesse festival.

La Kermesse festival organizers also stated on Facebook that they have yet to decide what to do with all the La Kermesse commemorative pins that not only celebrate the festival, but also acknowledge Maine’s bicentennial.