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How sweet it is: Sugar Shack is back for ninth year

On Jan. 23 the popular Francophone festival in Prince Rupert kicks off with a social
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Maple sticks at the Sugar Shack

Next week marks the start of the 9th annual Sugar Shack Festival.

The family-friendly festival is hosted by the Association des Francophones et Francophiles du Nord-Ouest (AFFNO) and offers a week full of activities for the whole family.

The festival begins on Wednesday, Jan. 23 with the kickoff social at Cowpuccino’s. The social will have artist Jilda Farias headlining the event.

On Thursday night, there will be a French film, and on Friday night at 8 p.m. actors take the stage for the desert theatre show at the Tom Rooney Theatre. Warning, the theatre show is more adult-oriented than the rest of the festival.

But the main draw for the festival is the hit Sugar Shack brunch. Saturday from 12-2 p.m. at the Jim Ciccone Civic centre.

The brunch invites families to come and enjoy some tasty traditional treats including pancakes made from scratch, and tourtiere, a traditional Quebec style meat pie. And of course, fresh Canadian maple syrup.

RELATED: Sugar Shack 2018: Sugary treats and tasty eats

The brunch will also feature a performance by Vazzy a French-Canadian duo who have performed across the country for years.

The executive director of AFFNO Patrick Witwicki said that the festival is a full week of fun but the main attraction is without a doubt the brunch.

“If you can only attend one event, you should attend the brunch Saturday at the Civic Centre, who doesn’t like to eat, and you can’t get a good meal really anywhere for $15, ” Witwicki said.

The festival started nine years ago when AFFNO moved there headquarters from Kitimat to Prince Rupert, and although it’s a huge success to date Witwicki said it hasn’t always been this sweet.

“In 2011, I didn’t know if it would fly, but now everyone knows about it and everyone wants to be there,” Witwicki said.

The festival has grown in popularity over the past couple of years, and tickets sell out fast, and Witwicki pleaded with the attendees to not wait until the last second to get tickets.

“The is a notoriously last-second town, but people should get their tickets fast because usually, we sell out,” Witwicki said.

Early bird prize tickets are also on sale, and if people purchase them before Friday, Jan 18. they will be entered for a chance to win a trip with BC Ferries.

Tickets for the events are on sale at the following locations:

Homework (Dessert Theatre)

Cooks Jewellers (For Sugar Shack)

Cowpuccino’s (Wednesday social)