Frog Follies jumps into action this weekend in St Pierre-Jolys

There will be more than frogs jumping into action this weekend in St Pierre-Jolys during the annual event, as the grand softball tournament makes its much-anticipated return to the festival’s schedule, along with some Jurassic participation for families.

“One thing that people used to love with the Frog Follies was the softball tournament we used to have. Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it was always the biggest thing that could happen in the summer in this area,” says programming director Roxane Gagne.

“We brought back the slo-pitch tournament for this year, and it looks like that is gonna be a huge success. We’ve already sold out; we don’t have room for anymore teams … Individual competitions are very spectator oriented, but this gets everyone involved, it’s like The Field of Dreams thing,” said Gagne.

Combined with a unique funding model, where different groups run different aspects of the festival but keep the proceeds from those operations as their own fundraiser, such as the local softball association and the tournament this year, excitement and participation in the follies has a renewed energy and interest.

“Everything is free, from admission to access for shows like the DinoMite Adventures we’re hosting this year. The sponsorships we get from our local businesses are absolutely crucial and we couldn’t do this without them, but we draw in participation by allowing organizations to fundraise from their activities with us. So, for example, we’ve got the school council doing Bingo this year because they need funding for a new outdoor structure,” said Gagne.

That dynamism has rejuvenated the festival and has provided a solid community basis to build upon, year after year. In a market where several community events compete for attendance and also for highly-valued volunteers, the model is performing well in terms of attracting both participants and attendees.

That excitement surrounding the festival is crucial to more than just fundraising, but also in adapting to the changing demographic of the area and in attracting newcomers to choose the community as their new home. Both Ukrainian and African immigrants are increasingly choosing the area because of its French flavour and underlying culture.

“The diversity of the town has changed a lot,” says Gagne. “We are noticing a difference in the demographics, and we’re seeing people from areas of the world moving into our communities that are attracted to the francophone and bilingual heritage.”

That diversity can be seen in the entertainment featured in the festival, with acts like the Franco-Manitoban sounds of Bandaline, the Ukrainian psych-folk of Zrada and the interactive drumming of the West African group Drum Café Winnipeg. The energy and positivity of the festival make the town and the surrounding area attractive and engaging for those looking to preserve their francophone roots in a new home community.

However, the new energy and approach to the festival doesn’t mean that the traditional fun has been shelved, as the “recruitment” and “boarding” of competitors for the frog jumping contest continue, albeit with a renewed focus on the welfare and ethical treatment of the amphibian competitors.

The tradition stems back to the Queen’s Jubilee tour in 1970 and was a tongue-in-cheek play on the old “frog” moniker from that era, but that tradition has been embraced by the community.

Today, a specifically trained specialist goes into the community’s wetlands to select frogs for the competition, marking the spot from which they were taken with GPS and then returning the amphibian to that exact spot after the festival is over. The “amphibian dormitory” during their stay is a virtual frog’s paradise consisting of a damp barrel filled with logs and “gourmet” flies for meals.

“I think anybody who grew up in St Pierre or around the surrounding areas probably had their hand in ‘jumping your frog’ at some point in their life,” said Gagne. “It’s a tradition that would be really hard to lose because, you know, it’s just such an integral part of who we are as a community.”

The fair runs Aug. 6 to 9 at the Carillon Park in St Pierre-Jolys.