Bonjour and welcome to a French-Indigenous cultural experience

The annual Flying Canoe Volant festival. (Brandon Lynch/CTV News Edmonton)

An annual festival is getting ready to say “bonjour” and give visitors a taste of French and Indigenous culture in Edmonton.

The Flying Canoë Volant festival will take off on Jan. 29 and is described as a “inclusive, iconic and community-connecting cultural celebration.”

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In 2024, the festival had 100,000 attendees and numbers are expected to be similar this year, according to a news release.

Flying Canoë Volant includes cultural, art and music displays. In past years, kilometres of trails have been illuminated to guide visitors through the festival.

New this year, a projection dome will be set up at Rutherford School showing non-stop, 360 degree short films.

FrancoQueer will also be hosting an event on Jan. 30 with DJs and a drag show.

Ice carving workshops and other interactive activities will also take place.

Last year, the Alberta government increased the amount of funding it provides the festival, from $50,000 to $75,000.

Flying Canoë Volant will take place in Mill Creek Ravine and Rutherford School grounds and run from 6 to 10 p.m. between Jan. 29 and Feb. 1.

The legend of the flying canoe, as well as French Canadian, First Nations and Métis traditions, serve as the inspiration for the festival.