LEWISTON — The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center is taking part in the 12-day “Le Semaine de la Francophonie” celebration beginning this week. Events will be held at the Franco Center, unless otherwise indicated.
The lineup is:
Monday, March 13
• “Henri Henri” film screening, 5:30 p.m., Performance Hall.
Tuesday, March 14
• Making Connections: Québec-Maine Business Forum, 8 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch in Auburn and at the Franco Center in Lewiston. Hosted by the Quebec government. Lunch will be served at the Franco Center at 1:15 p.m.
• Franco-American Color Guard ceremony, 5:15 p.m., the Performance Hall. Flags of Canada, France and the U.S. will be presented.
• A wine and cheese reception, 6:15 p.m., Heritage Hall. Honored guests from Canada, France and the U.S. will be in attendance. The reception will feature collection highlights from the Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.
Wednesday, March 15
• Franco-American Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Maine State House, Augusta.
• Monthly Thread Theater, live and original performance, 7:30 p.m., Heritage Hall. “Une Bonne Année” (A Good Year) will be the theme. Bar opens at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 16
• La Rencontre, a monthly Franco luncheon, 11:25 a.m., Heritage Hall. Doors open at 10 a.m.
• The North-American premiere of the opera “Le Musiciens de Brȇme,” presented by students from L’Ecole Française du Maine (The French School of Maine), Freeport, 12:30 p.m., Performance Hall.
• “La Passion d’Augustine” film screening, 1:30 p.m., Franco Center.
Friday, March 17
• Tea with Mercedes Gastonguay, Franco-American artist, 1 p.m., Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s L-A College, Room 170.
• French Sing-Along with Les Troubadours, 2 p.m, Franco-American Collection at L-A College, Room 170.
Saturday, March 18
• The Midcoast Symphony Orchestra will present “Pops at the Opera,” with works by Strauss Jr., Wagner, Bizet, Ponchielli, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Strauss. Reception at 6:30 p.m.; concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 adults, free for ages 18 and younger, students with college ID.
• A conference will be hosted by the Quebec government in Burlington, Vermont. Bates College professor and author Mary Rice-DeFosse, the Franco Center’s Mitchell Clyde Thomas and Jacynthe Jacques, and the Franco-American Collection’s Doris Bonneau will be presenters.
• A special Francophonie flag-raising ceremony and reception will take place in downtown Burlington after the conference.
For more details, visit francocenter.org or call the Franco Center at 207-689-2000.
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