The French Market is back this weekend, Sunday 6 November 2022 from 9am to 4pm at the Killarney Heights Public School, after a two year pandemic hiatus.
The community event started as a local market to raise funds for the French-speaking Association of the North Shore (FANS), the not-for-profit association managing the French-English bilingual program at Killarney Heights Public School, almost two decades ago, and has grown to become one of the largest French cultural events in Sydney.
FANS committee member Xavier Heyman, said the market has been running for 18 years but the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to COVID-19. The last edition was in 2019 welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors!
“Some [stalls] are local but others come from everywhere in Australia. It is a great opportunity for our visitors to do their Christmas shopping.”
Delicious French food, clothing items, hand-crafted jewellery and other unique wares will be on offer as well as a variety of games and fair rides, plus crêpes, quiches and other French gourmet treats, he said.
“As a French person, I would say that ‘French people are everywhere in Australia!’… Jokes aside, I would say that the Northern Beaches, especially in the suburbs around Killarney Heights, there are a lot of French or Francophone people because Killarney Heights Public School offers a unique French-English bilingual program.
“Consequently, a lot of families who want their children being fluent in French language live in the area of Killarney Heights Public School. At the moment, there are around 600 students enrolled in the French Bilingual program of the Killarney Heights Public School,” he said.
“ Aside the annual French Market (i.e. our major event), FANS organises other social events such as trivia, Fete de la Musique, Raclette Party, and so on. All our events are open to all FANS members but also to their friends, and of course whether people speak French or English. It is worth noting that most of the families who enrolled their children in the French/English bilingual program of the Killarney Heights Public School are not French, or only one family member is French. Some families just want their children to learn French!”
Sunday’s event promises the ‘guinguette’ atmosphere with the greatest classics of French music. Visitors will also enjoy sitting on the grass or at a table eating charcuterie & ‘baguette’, croque monsieur, ‘niçoise’ salad, madeleines or crepes and rides including dodgem cars, bouncing castles and slides.
Date: Sunday 6 November 2022 from 9am-4pm.
Location: Killarney Heights Public School, Killarney Heights, NSW 2087 (Entrance: Tralee Avenue, Melwood Avenue or Tramore Place)
Price: Free
More information: www.facebook.com/fansfrenchmarket
