Celebrate Michigan's 2016 French Canadian Heritage week with music, dance, folk songs, storytimes, more ...

"Je te plumerai la tête ...Alouette!" sing the members of Maple Sugar Folk during their recent concert of French Canadian folk songs at the Portage Lake District Library. The group, led by Dave Bezotte, fourth from left, will sing again this Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Lake Linden Farmers' Market -- a preview of Michigan's coming French Canadian Heritage Celebration next week. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)*

LAKE LINDEN -- Maple Sugar Folk will offer a preview of next week's French Canadian Heritage Celebration with Live music and French-Canadian Folk Songs from noon to 1 p.m. and possibly later during the Lake Linden Farmers' Market Saturday, Sept. 24. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a blanket and enjoy the goods and the music.

Another preview event will be Portage Lake District Library's Children's Storytime with French-Canadian stories and crafts and French-Canadian Folk Songs at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The library is at 58 Huron St. in Houghton.

During the 2015 French Canadian Heritage Celebration, children at the Portage Lake District Library Storytime enjoy a story about voyageurs read by Chris Alquist, the library's community programs coordinator. This year the library will host a French Canadian Children's Storytime at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Here is a schedule of the 2016 French Canadian Heritage events coming up next week:

September 28 (Wednesday)

10:15 a.m. CHILDREN’S STORYTIME AT PORTAGE LAKE DISTRICT LIBRARY, 58 Huron St., Houghton. French-Canadian stories and crafts. 

7 p.m. -9 p.m. DANCE at the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy, Hancock. Celebrate Finlandia University’s Festival Ruska and Michigan’s French-Canadian Heritage Week by dancing to Finnish and French-Canadian music by the Thimbleberry Band: folk dances, waltzes, schottisches, polkas and other favorites. $6 admission.

September 29 (Thursday)

10:15 a.m. CHILDREN’S STORYTIME AT PORTAGE LAKE DISTRICT LIBRARY, 58 Huron St., Houghton. French-Canadian stories and crafts. 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. CONCERT AT THE CHASSELL HERITAGE CENTER, 42373 Hancock Ave, Chassell. Lively fiddle tunes and step dancing by Emma and Susan Dlutkowski and French-Canadian folk and response songs lead by Maple Sugar Folk. Doors open at 6 p.m., so come early to view the exhibits. Free admission - donations appreciated.

During the 2015 French Canadian Concert at the Chassell Heritage Center, Emma Dlutkowski performs on the fiddle with lively step dancing, accompanied by her mother, Susan Dlutkowski on keyboard and her dad, Dave Harmon, on percussion. This year Emma and Susan will perform at the Chassell Heritage Center on Thursday, Sept. 29, along with Maple Sugar Folk. (Keweenaw Now file photo)  

October 2 (Sunday)

3:00 p.m. ORGAN RECITAL BY FR. CORBIN EDDY AT ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, 701 Calumet St., Lake Linden. Performed on the Quebec-made Casavant Frères pipe organ, the recital will feature organ compositions by French-Canadian and French composers and will include vocal soloists and Gregorian Chant. There will be no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken.

For more information, contact David Bezotte at dbezotte@yahoo.com or 906-370-4956.

* Visit the Maple Sugar Folk Facebook page for more photos and videos of their performances.

In Marquette, French Canadian Heritage will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in the Beaumier Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University. Click here for the events.