Sugar Shack Festival opens today

Prince Rupert's annual celebration of everything Francophone gets underway today, as Sugar Shack 2013 kicks off with a 7 PM social at Cowpucciono's.

The social launches four days of activities marking the third anniversary of the cultural event, celebrating the French culture across the Northwest. And while the temperatures of the North coast aren't quite the same as the backwoods of Quebec, the spirit of the festival should be much the same as that which surrounds the annual tapping of the maple trees back east.

Thursday is movie night at the Prince Rupert Cinemas. The featured attraction of the evening is the movie Liverpool, which includes subtitles for those still trying to work out their old high school french. Showtime is 7 PM.

Some entertainment in the way of a performance from L'Expression Collective is on the schedule for Friday night at the Tom Rooney Playhouse. As it's a Licensed event, the Friday evening affair is for those 19 and over. Tickets cost 5 dollars if purchased in advance at Teddy's or at the AFFNO offices at the Hecate Strait building. Tickets bump up a dollar to 6 if purchased at the door, the show starts at 8 PM.

Saturday features the Sugar Shack, which takes place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre from 11 am to 2 pm. A chance to sample some traditional Francophone food, a performance from L'Expression Collective and the chance to win a number of prizes will be available through the three hours. Included in the potential prize package is return trip for four aboard Via Rail from Prince Rupert to Jasper.

The cost of admission to Saturday's wrap up event is 15 dollars for adults, 10 dollars for those 6-12, 5 dollars for children 3-5, those under 2 are admitted free.

Tickets to the wrap up event can be purchased at Cook's Jewellers or the AFFNO office.

You can find out more about the Sugar Shack and the AFFNO from their website.