Some areas of downtown Moose Jaw will be shut down on Friday morning, as the city’s French community will take to the streets for their Tintamarre parade.  

The Acadian tradition will have people march through the downtown area in colourful clothes and will be making noise with improvised instruments and other noisemakers.  

It is a celebration that is usually in conjunction with National Acadian Day, which is on Aug. 15.  

The parade will kick off at Crescent Park at around 10:00 a.m. and will continue through the city to Ecole Ducharme, where they will raise the Fransaskoise flag.  

From about 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Athabasca St E from 3rd Ave NE to Main St N will be closed, and then Main St N from Athabasca St W to Ominica St W will be shut down as the parade moves on, Ominica St W from Main St to 3rd Ave NW will be temporarily closed, and 3rd Ave NW from Ominica St W to Athabasca St W will be down. 

According to bonjoursk.ca, there are nearly 700 people in Moose Jaw that recognize French as their first language with over 1900 speaking French and English on a regular basis.  Moose Jaw has three schools that offer a French learning environment including École Ducharme, Palliser Heights, and École St. Margaret.