Come celebrate all things French at this traditional annual market event!
The 16th edition of the French Market will be held on Sunday 6 November 2022 from 9am to 4pm at the Killarney Heights Public School, located in Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
More than 60 stalls will offer French culinary delights, specialty French clothing items, hand-crafted jewellery and other unique wares. It is also a fun-filled day for children, with a large variety of games and fair rides, plus crêpes, quiches and other French gourmet treats to sweeten the deal.
Humble beginnings
The French Market has grown to become one of the largest French cultural events in Sydney, with almost 10,000 visitors at the last edition in 2019.
“When we organised the first market 18 years ago, we had no idea that it would get this big” says Anne Mangeant, one of the co-founders of the French Market.
At the time, two school mothers took the initiative to host a new event to raise funds for FANS, the not-for-profit association managing the French-English bilingual program at Killarney Heights Public School. On their first go, they successfully gathered around 20 merchants on a Friday afternoon, in a small hall beside the school.
“The idea was to create an event that would bring together the French-speaking community and offer French products” says Anne Mangeant.
Destination France
Visitors to the market will be transported to France, with live music and a chance to sample the many flavours of France. Beret-clad stallholders will be serving up quiches, crepes, waffles and baguettes with a friendly ‘Bonjour’.
“We put in a lot of effort to create a typical French ambience. With the combination of music, decorations, and outfits, everyone plays a role” the FANS French Market Committee says.
The menu also includes croque-monsieur (gourmet ham and cheese toasts), salads, barbecued ‘merguez’ sausages, and more.
Clémence Duprat, FANS Vice President said French music gave the market an authentic ambience.
“The French Market brings us back to our childhoods and memories of France. I love the nostalgic ‘guinguette’ atmosphere of a traditional open-air café with music and dancing’’ Clémence says.
Quality French goods
Market stalls will be selling a variety of French products such as Breton shirts (‘marinières’), espadrille style footwear, tablecloths from Provence, handmade jewellery, woven baskets, and a large selection of French books for adults and children.
Classic French gastronomy is also featured with foie gras, confit de canard, truffle products, charcuterie, nougat, macarons, and other sweet pastries. There will be more than 60 stalls, and with Christmas approaching, there are gift ideas for every taste and budget.
Children’s day out
The youngest marketgoers can find everything they need to make a memorable day out (e.g. slippery slides, jumping castles, and classic fairground games such as the spinning wheel).
There will also be fairy floss and snow cones to cool them down, and face painting to make the day even more fun.
Fundraiser event
The French Market is also a key fundraiser for the thriving French bilingual program at Killarney Heights Public School, says Janos Jersch, FANS president.
“The French Market is very important to us. This event allows us to spread French culture throughout the Northern Beaches, and is a unique opportunity for people to connect and spend an unforgettable day together’’ Janos said.
Launched in 1998, the FANS French-English bilingual program at KHPS provides around 600 primary school students with the opportunity to learn in two languages, while following the NSW curriculum.
More information: https://www.fanssydney.org/french-market
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