St. Jean Baptiste Day celebrations in Montreal. Photo: User:Montrealais / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-2.5

Saint Jean Baptiste Day is a French celebration that is held every year on June 24th to celebrate Saint John the Baptist. The tradition was introduced in Canada by French settlers. It was not until 1834 that the holiday was adopted as a way for French Canadians to celebrate their culture. In 1925 it became an official holiday in Quebec, and by 1977 people were gathering in large-scale public celebrations.

The Francophone community here in Sault Ste. Marie holds a Saint Jean Baptiste Day festival each year to celebrate and promote their heritage. The festival is free, open to all, and features great music and activities for all ages!