Rendez-vous Détroit
Celebrating Détroit's French History!
EVENTS
Rendez-vous Detroit is involved in many cultural activities throughout the year. Below is our upcoming and past events.
Rendez-vous Détroit s’implique en plusieurs activités culturelles pendant l’année. En-dessous sont quelques-uns des évènements 2025.
CHECK BACK SOON FOR UPCOMING EVENTS!
PAST EVENTS
BONNE FÊTE DÉTROIT 325, JULY 24 – 25, 2026
Détroit celebrated its 325th birthday with festivities hosted by Rendez-vous Détroit at Bonne Fête Détroit 325, July 24 – 25, 2026.
The celebration began with a Founders’ Ceremony at Hart Plaza on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. We were honored to have Victoria Westbrooks, Public Affairs Spokesperson for the City of Detroit, Grantly Franklin from the Canadian Consulate in Detroit and Cédric Ballarin, Honorary Consul General of France in Détroit, commemorate the occasion with us. La Maîtrise des Hauts de France (The French Boys’ Choir) performed the national anthems of the United States, Canada and France.
After the ceremony the celebration continued at the Fort Pontchartrain Hotel, built on the site of Cadillac’s 1701 fort. Over the two-day event, speakers included Dr. Catherine Cangany, Mr. Jim Verney and Dr. Claire-Marie Brisson.
Attendees all enjoyed a beautiful day on the Detroit River, learning about the French history of the area during the Détroit French History Cruise.
Music for the Friday night dinner dance was provided by Dennis Stroughmatt and L’esprit Creole with Deborah Hyland, dance mistress.
Music for the Saturday night dinner dance was provided by La Compagnie Dance Troupe.
Rendez-vous Détroit sincerely thanks all our generous sponsors who made Bonne Fête Détroit 325 possible. We are also deeply grateful to all our wonderful volunteers who helped make everything happen. We also appreciate all contributions of time, energy and effort.
Lastly, thank you to everyone who attended! To our friends who always show their support by attending our events, thank you so much for your friendship and loyalty. It is truly cherished and appreciated. For the many people who came out of curiosity about us, our French history and heritage, thank you! Thank you for being inquisitive and open to new experiences!
If you attended Bonne Fête Détroit 325, you know a great time was had by all, new friendships and connections were made, and you might have found a few new distant relatives! We look forward to seeing all of you again and thank you for celebrating Détroit’s 325th birthday with us. À bientôt!
 Photography by Tom Sobocan |  Photography by Tom Sobocan |  Photography by Tom Sobocan |
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 Photography by Tom Sobocan |  Photography by Tom Sobocan |  Photography by Tom Sobocan |
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 Thank you, Jim Verney, for your most interesting and engaging presentation about your Vernier family! |  Karen Hunt, volunteer |  Dennis Stroughmatt and L'Esprit Creole |
 Cathy's French dolls |  Sponsor Thank-You Banners |  Sponsor Thank-You Banners |
 Sponsor Thank-You Banners |  Sponsor Thank-You Banners |  Sponsor Thank-You Banners |
 Sponsor Thank-You Banners |
Bonne Fête Détroit 325, lots of great music and dancing!
French Christmas at the Strait
Noël Français au Détroit
A French Noël celebration was held in the church hall of the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Détroit on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Guests enjoyed an assortment of French treats including buche du Noël, sablés, macarons, plus a visit from Père Noël. Violinist Vincent Hunt serenaded the crowd with traditional Christmas carols which included a sing-along in French led by John Cooper.
Trois Bouffons performed many holiday favorites as well as the classic music of the Straits. M. Genot Picor led the group in traditional French folk dancing. Afterwards, a bilingual mass in the church was held. Ste. Anne’s Director of Music, Joseph Moss, added a special touch to the mass by playing French hymns.
The French Christmas at the Strait was a great way to celebrate the Season – great food, music, friends and fun!
24 July 2024
On 323rd Detroit's birthday: The French Ambassador to the US, M. Laurent Billi welcomed by Msgr. Kosanke at the Basilica of Ste Anne de Detroit, parish founded by Cadillac in 1701 and the last landmark built (1887) by the French community of the city. A short Detroit French History tour was organized by Rendez-vous Detroit board members (below in traditional attire) for this first visit by the Ambassador and his wife to Detroit.
23 July 2024
The French Novena at Ste. Anne de Detroit and the Detroit French History Cruise on July 23, 2023 was a meaningful and fun experience for all!
Sunday, July21, 2024 was the day of the annual French Novena at Ste. Anne de Detroit. The noon mass was attended by people of French descent or whose families once called Ste. Anne's their home parish. The mass was followed by a wonderful buffet in the church hall which featured many French and French Canadian entrees and desserts. To say the least, everyone was well-fed and happy!
Then it was time to take a boat ride for the Detroit French History Cruise on the Detroit River, the main highway of the 18th century. Host John Cooper did an excellent job narrating the historical tour and pointing out all the French landmarks along the river route.
Between John's narrative, lively traditional French Canadian music was provided by Too Happy Voyageurs.
18 May 2024
Rendez-vous Détroit and the French Heritage Society, Chicago-Midwest Chapter, co-hosted the Saturday night dinner for the attendees of the French Heritage Corridor Conference. The dinner was held at the Sawyer Homestead in Monroe, MI. The property was once the original French ribbon farm of François Navarre, founder of Frenchtown/Monroe.
Rendez-vous Détroit provided the pre-dinner appetizers and punch as well as a French Canadian dinner. After dinner, Russ Navarre and his sister Dar Navarre Darley gave a presentation about their ancestor, François. Rendez-vous Board member Cathy Kirouac Robinson created one of her beautiful baskets, this one with Rendez-vous wine glasses and bottles of wine. Everyone was given a ticket and one lucky person won the basket. Then it was time for the music and dancing sponsored by the French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan, The Center for French Colonial Studies and the Kalamazoo chapter of Alliance Française. La Compagnie performed before and after dinner and an excellent time was had by all!
Rendez-vous at Historic Fort Wayne, 2021