History
In 1970, the year of Manitoba's Centennial, a group of St-Pierre residents yearned to welcome people into their small town to celebrate their rich francophone heritage. This passion led the residents to create a festival to celebrate the people and heritage of St-Pierre-Jolys. On July 14, 1970, the dream of a community festival came true as St-Pierre-Jolys welcomed HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles for a 20 minute visit to launch the first ever St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies. The first edition of the festival included such greats as the Shawinigan Majorettes, the "Mutins de Longueuil", the "Petits Chanteurs de Montréal", the Winnipeg Judo and Karate School, Angèle Arsenault from Montreal, the St. Boniface Intrépides Choir, and Andy Desjarlais and his Early Settlers.
Many events were held that weekend including the First Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship, on July 15 of that weekend. Mayor Fernand Lavergne issued a public challenge to politicians and mayors of other towns. Judges for the event included Justice Louis Deniset, Justice Alfred Monin, Dr. Jean-Louis Forgues, and Mr. Robert Trudel, Magistrate and the winner of this 1st frog jumping contest was Mr. Albert Driedger, Reeve of Hanover Municipality, when his frog, Georges, jumped 7 feet 1.25 inches.
In 2009, the St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies joined forces with the St-Pierre Agricultural Society’s Ag Fair. This merger created a larger event that began attracting more people from all over the region and the country. Today, the St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies welcomes over 1000 people per day.
Many events were held that weekend including the First Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship, on July 15 of that weekend. Mayor Fernand Lavergne issued a public challenge to politicians and mayors of other towns. Judges for the event included Justice Louis Deniset, Justice Alfred Monin, Dr. Jean-Louis Forgues, and Mr. Robert Trudel, Magistrate and the winner of this 1st frog jumping contest was Mr. Albert Driedger, Reeve of Hanover Municipality, when his frog, Georges, jumped 7 feet 1.25 inches.
In 2009, the St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies joined forces with the St-Pierre Agricultural Society’s Ag Fair. This merger created a larger event that began attracting more people from all over the region and the country. Today, the St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies welcomes over 1000 people per day.
