It’s the end for the Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield Country Festival

It’s the end for the Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield Country Festival

The 9th edition of the Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield Country Festival, held last weekend at the Fort-Coulonge arena, once again brought together country music fans in a warm and festive atmosphere.

According to the organizers, attendance was lower than in previous years due to inflation. Despite this, a full musical lineup featuring more than thirty local and guest artists delighted the festival‑goers. Carole Faubert, one of the main organizers of the Festival, gives us all the details:

“Everything went smoothly. We did notice an economic impact on people, however; there were fewer visitors and fewer RV campers. So we can clearly see that the economy is making a difference in our community. But overall, things went well and we are happy with the outcome.”

For three days, music, dancing, and good spirits filled the region. Festival‑goers enjoyed several stage performances, along with the activities and services offered on-site, including camping, food vendors, and kiosk areas. Participants particularly highlighted the friendly, family‑oriented atmosphere.

The organizers expressed their heartfelt thanks to the community for its ongoing support since the festival’s beginnings. They emphasized that, over its nine editions, the event has helped showcase country music and bring the community together in a unique and welcoming setting.

“On behalf of Phil and myself, we celebrated our 9th edition this past weekend — and if we include the one cancelled during the pandemic, it was actually our 10th. We never imagined we would take on such a challenge, but by combining our experience and our passion, we created an event we are truly proud of. None of this would have been possible without our incredible volunteers. Every year, more than 60 dedicated people helped transform the arena, prepare the grounds, welcome RV campers, and ensure everything ran smoothly. We are deeply grateful to them, to our families, friends, sponsors, suppliers, and everyone who supported us over the years.

Thank you as well to the festival‑goers who travelled so many kilometres to join us, and to the local community members who encouraged the event. Many visitors told us our festival was one of the most beautiful in Quebec — a comment that touched us deeply. After much reflection, we have decided there will not be a 10th edition. Rising costs, the age of many volunteers, possible future projects on the grounds, and changes in our personal availability all contributed to this difficult decision. Organizing the festival was a major personal and financial responsibility, and we always operated as a non‑profit, reinvesting everything into the event. We poured our hearts into building something unique, and we are proud of what we accomplished. The festival may be over, but country music will always remain alive in our lives. Finally, thank you to CHIP 101.9 — especially François Carrier and Nathalie Denault — for believing in us from the very beginning.”