The Franco-American Fiddlers Rendezvous is scheduled to take place from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8, in Kennedy Park in Lewiston. In addition to being treated to a free program of lively Quebecois and Acadian dance tunes and songs, attendees will be invited to visit displays of information and artifacts presented by two different local Franco cultural organizations.

The Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society encourages those with an interest in exploring their Franco ancestral roots to drop by the society’s table to learn about the organization’s many resources and pick up a sample genealogy chart. Located on the second floor of the Fortin Group Funeral Home (217 Turner St., Auburn), the MFGS Library contains over 3,200 volumes covering family records from all of the New England states as well as parts of Canada, many of which reveal data which is not accessible online. In addition to the print materials, the library has information available in several other formats, as well as a cadre of volunteers who are skillful at assisting individuals in researching their family’s Franco-American history.

The Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College will also have a display table at the event. The mission of the Franco-American Collection is to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of Maine’s Franco-American population. Central to the display at the Fiddlers Rendezvous will be artifacts related to noted Maine Franco musician Leo Pepin, who some 60 years ago composed the boisterous “Dirigo March,” which was designated as Maine’s official state march in 2012. In a nod to Pepin as well as to Maine’s Bicentennial, the nine musicians featured in the Rendezvous will join forces to perform a special “fiddle-ized” version of the “Dirigo March” as the grand finale for their concert. The event is sponsored by LA Arts with funding provided by a generous grant from the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

The event will take place in the gazebo in Lewiston’s Kennedy Park, located on Pine Street between Park and Bates streets. Attendees are advised to bring chairs or blankets for seating. The rain date for the event is the following Sunday, Aug. 15. For more information, contact LA Arts at (207) 782-7228.

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