What would Festival du Bois be without an appearance by Frenchie the Clown? The annual celebration of all things French-Canadian — but especially music and those Maillardville frog hats — once again plays host to Joey Esperance and the character he’s been bringing to the festival for “at least 25 years,” by the local actor’s estimation. For this year’s Festival du Bois, Esperance filmed himself — as Frenchie — reading, in both French and English, the 2020 children’s book Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds. “I created a little area in my apartment, and I pretend I’m in Paris ‘cos that’s where I’m supposed to live,” Esperance says. “It’s a way for Frenchie to be there. And for the kids who enjoy Frenchie to have a little bit of time with him.”