The Festival du Loup — Where the Wolf Still Howls
The Festival du Loup in Lafontaine celebrates the old legend of a ghostly wolf whose eerie howls once united the area’s divided communities in fear and solidarity. Today, as the largest Franco-Ontarian festival of its kind, it brings people together with storytelling, music, food, and a joyful communal howl that keeps the spirit of the tale alive. It’s a fun, family-friendly gathering where everyone’s invited to honour local heritage and let out their best « AOUH ! » under the summer stars.
TinyTRA
7/16/20252 min read
Gather ‘round, friends, for a tale as old as Lafontaine’s shadowy pines—a tale best told by flickering firelight on a July night. Long ago, when these fields were raw and the people divided, something stalked the edges of the villages: a great, ghostly wolf with eyes like lanterns in the dark.
By day, the settlers quarreled—French, English, Métis, and First Nations people eyeing each other with suspicion across split-rail fences. But when night fell, the wolf’s chilling howl wove through the woods and fields, and every door was bolted tight.
Some say it played with the Métis children, whispering secrets only they could hear. Others swear it snatched livestock right from under a hunter’s watchful eye. The fear was so thick it forced enemies to become neighbours—working together to face the beast that haunted them all. When the final shot rang out and the wolf fell, so too did old grudges. The people were bound by a shared story… and maybe, just maybe, by the wolf’s lingering spirit.
And so, every summer, when the warm winds return and the coyotes yip at dusk, Lafontaine remembers. The Festival du Loup invites everyone—city folks, farm folks, the old guard and the curious new kids—to howl at the moon and celebrate the legend that made this place one big, tangled family.
A video by TinyTRA's Erik Schomann of the story of the wolf made in the lead up to the 2023 event.
What’s Happening – July 19th at Lafontaine Park
When: Saturday, July 19th
Where: Lafontaine Park — you’ll hear the howls before you see the lights!
Spooky Stories & Campfire Tales
Pull up a hay bale, grab a blanket, and listen as storytellers spin eerie legends and local lore. Think flickering lanterns, creaky voices, and a Vincent Price twist—just scary enough for the kids to squeal and the grown-ups to grin (in French, of course)
Tractor Parade
Who says small towns can’t roll out the big wheels? Watch vintage tractors chug by in a colourful parade—a tip of the hat to Lafontaine’s farm roots.
Family Field Day
Games, races, laughter—good old-fashioned country fun for all ages. Bring your crew and let the kids run wild while you tap your toes to live music.
Live Music & The Great Howl
Two nights of music from local Francophone bands and Canadian folk favourites. But don’t slip away too soon—when the clock strikes howling hour, join Le Grand Hurlement, where kids and adults alike compete to see who can summon the ghostly wolf with the loudest, wildest howl.
Food & Artisan Market
Tasty treats, local eats, and handmade crafts. Fill your belly, grab a souvenir, and chat with neighbours new and old.
Heritage & History
Wander through mini-exhibits that show how Lafontaine’s French-Canadian story began—tales of pioneers, parish picnics, and of course, that legendary wolf.
Come Howl With Us
So dust off your lawn chair, bring the kids, and warm up your best wolf howl. Under the stars, where the stories live on, we’ll gather as one big pack—proof that sometimes, the scariest tales bring us closest together.
See you July 19th. Let’s wake the old wolf one more time. « AOUH ! »
