Thunder Bay residents have a busy weekend ahead with three community events running from June 18 to 20, 2026. Festival BONJOUR kicks off Thursday at Waverley Park in the Port Arthur neighbourhood, while Saturday brings the Children’s Festival at Chippewa Park and Soccer Funfest at the North End Recreation Centre.
The Festival BONJOUR runs daily from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm through Saturday, celebrating Francophone arts, heritage, and culture. Organised by the Coopérative Centre francophone de Thunder Bay Inc., the event was rebranded in 2025 from its original name, the Franco-Festival, to be more welcoming to everyone. The 2026 lineup includes open-air concerts, street food, an e-gaming tournament, and an Après-festi after-party.
On Saturday, June 20, the Children’s Festival at Chippewa takes over Chippewa Park from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Put on by the Friends of Chippewa Park, the festival offers games, crafts, and a Children’s Services Expo. It normally draws between 1,500 and 2,500 people and supports Our Kids Count, a local group helping children and families.
Also on Saturday, Soccer Funfest runs from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm at the North End Recreation Centre on Huron Avenue. Organised by Brandon Mikkola, the event wraps up the spring soccer season for kids aged 3 to 14 with soccer activities and a season-ending BBQ. The North End Community Centre notes that volunteer coaches get their child’s registration fee reimbursed through the Funfest.
Festival BONJOUR was first held in 2007 by the Association des Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario to mark its 30th anniversary. The 2025 name change to Festival BONJOUR came after research showed some people did not feel the festival was for them. Moving the event from fall to early summer has helped attract more school-age youth. The Children’s Festival at Chippewa Park has become a yearly staple, highlighting the historic park that is home to a C.W. Parker carousel manufactured in 1915 (brought to the park in 1934). Soccer Funfest recognises the volunteer coaches who make the spring program possible.
