Islanders can immerse themselves in French culture in a biannual festival celebrating the links with our continental neighbours.

Le French Festival starts today (12 July), with events from Norman Markets to free film screenings.

The event is for the whole family, bar the vin d’honneur (wine with snacks), with French artists, vendors and circus performers.

Christine Bonhomme, Directrice of the Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche, says she is delighted to bring a Norman flavour to Jersey with artists and traders coming from Normandy.

"Le French Festival is an opportunity for the Norman cousins, not only to showcase their many talents but to work towards creating and developing long-lasting relationships."

Maison de la Normandie et de la Manche wants to show the Région Normandie and Conseil Départemental de La Manche's commitment to Jersey through its involvement in Le French Festival.

Among the highlights this year:

• “Dis-moi tes amours!” is a one-hour show from opera to musicals by the Lyrisme de Rue compagnie at 7 pm on 14 July, in the Royal Square.
• On Sunday, 16 July, Tapagwen, a trio of musicians from Bretagne, will perform traditional Breton music mixed with Irish and Acadian or ragtime influences. They will stroll around town and host two Breton Dance workshops, finishing with a concert on Royal Square.
• Angèle is a quirky artist performing her hula hoop and singing act on Saturday, 15 July, in the Royal Square.
• La Panthère des Neiges is a film screening (with English subtitles) of a magnificent movie, for the entire family, on Saturday in the Royal Square.
• And, of course, the Bastille Day celebrations will take place on Friday.

Bastille Day (14 July) is one of France's most important national days which celebrates the revolution of France and the storming of the Bastille in Paris.